Examining Tennessee's 2017 starting roster (Fluid)

There's been a lot of talk about the perceived lack of talent that will be returning on Tennessee's roster heading into 2017 now that we have 5 key players heading into the NFL Draft over the next few weeks --

-- With UT's Spring camp starting to wind down I thought this would be a good time to discuss what's happening with the team. This is a best guess (My opinion only) on Tennessee's starting roster using the 247 composite ratings as well as breaking down the number of upperclassmen and underclassmen in starting roles.

Defense:

DE: 98 4* JR Kyle Phillips / 90 4* RS SO Darrell Taylor
DT: 99 5* JR Khalil McKenzie
DT: 97 4* JR Shy Tuttle (If healthy) / 1 of Kendal Vickers, Alexis Johnson or Quay Picou if unhealthy
DE: 95 4* RS JR Jonathan Kongbo

MLB: 92 4* JR Darrin Kirkland Jr / 91 4* SO Daniel Bituli
OLB: 92 4* JR Cortez McDowell / 92 4* RS JR Darrin Kirkland Jr
SLB: 86 3* RS SO Austin Smith (When SLB is applicable)

CB: 90 4* SR Justin Martin
CB: 84 3* SR Emmanuel Moseley
NB: 87 3* RS JR Rashaun Gaulden (When NB is applicable)

S: 96 4* SR Todd Kelly Jr.
S: 96 4* SO Nigel Warrior / 90 4* JR Micah Abernathy


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Offense:

QB: 90 4* JR Quentin Dormady / 96 4* RS FR Jarrett Guarantano
RB: 86 3* JR John Kelly

LT: 97 4* RS SO Drew Richmond
OG: 86 3* SR Jashon Robertson /
C: 85 3* SR Coleman Thomas / 86 3* SR Jason Robertson
OG: 82 3* RS SR Brett Kendrick / 94 4* JR Jack Jones
RT: 99 5* FR Trey Smith

TE: 88 3* SR Ethan Wolf

WR: 92 4* JR Jauan Jennings
WR: 95 4* SO Tyler Byrd
WR: 94 4* SO Marquez Callaway / 82 3* RS SR Josh Smith

(WR is hard to nail down and probably the most fluid position)

Couple of take aways:

Using 247 Composite:

# of 3* starters: 7
# of 4* starters: 13
# of 5* starters: 2


# of Upperclassmen starters (RS SO+): 17 + or - QB Battle
# of Underclassmen starters: 4 + or - QB Battle


1. This is still a very talented roster and one that is good enough to compete with and beat any team in it's division and anyone on the schedule not named Alabama.

2. The Starting 22 is loaded with talented upperclassmen

3. OL will be the strength and leadership for this team

4. QB Battle is still up in the air although depending on who you ask you'll get differing opinions/views. A reputable poster on here believes it will ultimately be Dormady that starts in the opener against GT. He's been pretty spot on with the information that he's brought to this board, but to be impartial I've also seen other reputable posters on other websites that have said that they believe it's Guarantano's job to lose.

5. Who steps up and helps replace Josh Malone at WR? Is it Marquez Callaway, Latrell Williams, or Brandon Johnson?

6. Can we avoid crippling injuries to multiple major players? 2016 was one of the worst if not the worst year for injuries to key players that I've ever seen since following UT. That has to be corrected.


If UT gets good QB play (And by all accounts the coaches love both options at QB) Tennessee can sneak up on some people and make some noise with relatively low expectations this year. Ultimately Butch The Lesbian Jones is still the HC so catching an L to someone they shouldn't is still a very real possibility, but anyone thinking that Tennessee is going to be a push over in 2017 is fooling themselves.

Personally I think the East is going to be the wild west this year and although I would probably go ahead and give the proverbial nod to Georgia to be the favorites as of right now, I wouldn't be surprised to see several other teams make a legitimate run for Atlanta either.

Happy Easter to everyone