Oline is the question mark, but you have to hope a lot of he injured guys get back healthy and that Brooks, Ryan Johnson and Locklear gained a lot from getting the playing time they got. So on Offense UT returns:
O line - Chance Hall, Tatum, Trey Smith(beast), Ryan Johnson, Locklear, Niehaus, Calbert, and hope to the God we get Cade Mays to change his mind
RB- If Kelly returns, the tandem of he and Chandler will be about as good as any in the conference. I liked what we saw from Fils-Aime and Jordan also. This group has me encouraged and was by far the best offensive group on the team this year.
WR- Johnson and Calloway are good and then have to have Palmer, Murphy, and a few others emerge. Move Byrd to corner already!
TE- Pope and Eli Wolf looked ok but I'm most excited about Bumphus. Warren from Farragut looks like a potential star. I think this can be a good group.
QB- the season hinges on a new coach getting the most out of Guarantano or Mcbride or even one of the freshmen that are good prospects
Defense returns almost everyone
DT- Tuttle I think will break out as a senior after getting through a season healthy for the first time. McKenzie, Picou, Johnson and the freshman group should make for a pretty good DT unit.
DE- Taylor and Kongbo(is he graduated?) and Phillips could start to live up to expectations. Mathew Butler and Deandre Johnson could step up. This group has been disappointing but I think it can be good next year if they improve st a normal rate with a vreakout from one or two.
LB- this should be a good unit. No more ginger ninja. Kirkland please get healthy! Bituli, Sapp, Ignont, and the freshman group look good. If Kirkland is healthy it would be huge because I believe that some pairing of him with Sapp and Bituli would give UT a solid group.
CB- Shamburger is the man and hopefully Byrd. Need Osborne and Buchanan to improve. Don't think there is any drop off from last year because we sucked with the upperclassmen that are gone. I think this group improves.
Safety- Warrior is potentially All SEC with Todd Kelly thankfully returning. I like Abernathy but he's been disappointing. Theo Jackson and Labruzza could be good.
I'm assuming Gaulden may leave but if he returns, I think that's the difference in at least one win next year.
Get a good hire and this team should be able to do ok next season. Definitely not lose all the SEC games, then go from there. Gotta make a bowl at least in 2018 and start climbing back to relevance!
O line - Chance Hall, Tatum, Trey Smith(beast), Ryan Johnson, Locklear, Niehaus, Calbert, and hope to the God we get Cade Mays to change his mind
RB- If Kelly returns, the tandem of he and Chandler will be about as good as any in the conference. I liked what we saw from Fils-Aime and Jordan also. This group has me encouraged and was by far the best offensive group on the team this year.
WR- Johnson and Calloway are good and then have to have Palmer, Murphy, and a few others emerge. Move Byrd to corner already!
TE- Pope and Eli Wolf looked ok but I'm most excited about Bumphus. Warren from Farragut looks like a potential star. I think this can be a good group.
QB- the season hinges on a new coach getting the most out of Guarantano or Mcbride or even one of the freshmen that are good prospects
Defense returns almost everyone
DT- Tuttle I think will break out as a senior after getting through a season healthy for the first time. McKenzie, Picou, Johnson and the freshman group should make for a pretty good DT unit.
DE- Taylor and Kongbo(is he graduated?) and Phillips could start to live up to expectations. Mathew Butler and Deandre Johnson could step up. This group has been disappointing but I think it can be good next year if they improve st a normal rate with a vreakout from one or two.
LB- this should be a good unit. No more ginger ninja. Kirkland please get healthy! Bituli, Sapp, Ignont, and the freshman group look good. If Kirkland is healthy it would be huge because I believe that some pairing of him with Sapp and Bituli would give UT a solid group.
CB- Shamburger is the man and hopefully Byrd. Need Osborne and Buchanan to improve. Don't think there is any drop off from last year because we sucked with the upperclassmen that are gone. I think this group improves.
Safety- Warrior is potentially All SEC with Todd Kelly thankfully returning. I like Abernathy but he's been disappointing. Theo Jackson and Labruzza could be good.
I'm assuming Gaulden may leave but if he returns, I think that's the difference in at least one win next year.
Get a good hire and this team should be able to do ok next season. Definitely not lose all the SEC games, then go from there. Gotta make a bowl at least in 2018 and start climbing back to relevance!
