How much youth will be served on Tennessee's offensive line?
Blake ToppmeyerThis is Part I of a series examining Tennessee’s roster after spring practice. Today, we look at the offensive line.
Spring game starters (left to right)
Wanya Morris, Jahmir Johnson, Ryan Johnson, K’Rojhn Calbert, Marcus Tatum
Spring game backups
Nathan Niehaus, Chris Akporoghene, Jerome Carvin, Riley Locklear, Ollie Lane
Don’t forget about …
Wright, a five-star signee, will join the team this summer.
What we thought we knew entering spring practice
This was the position group Tennessee most needed to improve throughout the offseason. The line was a stumbling block for an offense that ranked among the worst in the nation each of the past two seasons.
The Vols took a step toward addressing the problem by signing five offensive linemen in this year’s recruiting class. As a bonus, Morris and Akporoghene became early enrollees.
Jahmir Johnson seemed like the only sure starter in the group, especially with Trey Smith’s status uncertain after he was ruled out indefinitely last October because of blood clots in his lungs.
Tennessee did seem positioned to develop a bit more quality depth than it had a year ago.
What we learned from spring practice
This position remains a lingering concern for Tennessee, and coach Jeremy Pruitt knows it.
“We’ve really got to shore up our offensive line up front,” Pruitt said after Saturday’s spring game. “We need to play with a little lower pad level. We’ve got to be able to run the football to have success in this league.”
The Vols need to protect the quarterback better, too.
Starting quarterback Jarrett Guarantano was sacked four times Saturday, although spring game sack stats are a bizarre sampling because all it takes is touching the quarterback to whistle the play dead.
Jahmir Johnson auditioned a little at left tackle during the spring, but he looks pretty cemented in at left guard. The four other spots remain ongoing position battles.
Calbert, who has been slowed by injuries throughout his career, is finally healthy, and he took advantage of the spring to position himself atop the right guard depth chart.
“K’Rojhn has had a really good spring,” offensive line coach Will Friend said earlier this month. “He brings a size and a physical strength that we need, and he’s done well. He’s probably one of the main ones that has been really good at times and then really average at times, at best.”
What’s next?
Youth could be served on this line. Morris “has a chance to be a really good player,” Friend said. He must develop consistency, Friend added, but “you can see the talent. You can see the ability.”
Three more freshmen arrive this summer – most notably Wright. Don’t be surprised if Tennessee starts Morris and Wright as tackles despite their freshman status. That’s especially true if Smith isn’t cleared. Smith participated in position drills featuring light contact during the spring but hasn’t been cleared for full participation. It’s unclear whether he’ll receive the green light.
The center competition will be heated. Carvin is getting more comfortable at that spot after playing mostly guard last season. He’ll push returning starter Ryan Johnson.
Brandon Kennedy will be in the mix at center, too. Kennedy played only one game last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He participated this spring in a limited capacity and did not play in the spring game, but he should be full speed come fall.
“I think we’ve improved from this time a year ago,” Friend said. “I think we’re stronger, more physical, more mature than we were a year ago. We still have a long way to go.”
ADAMS:Tennessee offensive line moving up in SEC East rankings
Blake Toppmeyer covers University of Tennessee football. Email him at blake.toppmeyer@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer. If you enjoy Blake’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.