A look at the Vols on opening day

Lane Kiffin hates depth charts. And who could blame him? Such lists seem antiquated when Tennessee's coaching staff made competition the top priority. Still, here's a glimpse of what the Vols will look like on opening day.

View a PDF presentation of the text below

Quarterbacks

Jonathan Crompton earns another chance. Nick Stephens is waiting in the wings.

No. Player Class Size

8 Jonathan Crompton Sr. 6-4, 225

17 Nick Stephens Jr. 6-4, 230

Pre-Kiffin: Be it UT's offense, its coordinator or its overall talent in 2008, the Vols quarterbacks were average on their best days last season. UT played three last season. All struggled.

Post-Kiffin: UT's quarterbacks appeared more comfortable and effective in spring and preseason camp. Gone is B.J. Coleman, who felt he wouldn't have a fair shot at the starting job.

Boils Down To: Crompton has been beaten up physically and emotionally since he donned his No. 8 orange jersey. He needs good things to happen early to boost his confidence. If not, Stephens is there.

Tailbacks

Recruiting has quickly made this one of UT's most talent-laden units.

No. Player Class Size

2 Montario Hardesty Sr. 6-0, 215

11 Bryce Brown Fr. 6-0, 220

27 David Oku Fr. 5-10, 186

28 Tauren Poole So. 5-10, 203

Pre-Kiffin: Former UT tailback Arian Foster cost the Vols two games last season with fumbles, which were all too common in his career. Hardesty has suffered a myriad of leg injuries. Lennon Creer showed some flashes but didn't like Kiffin's style and left the team.

Post-Kiffin: Hardesty's practice snaps were limited in preseason camp to ensure he is fresh and healthy. While Poole has had a strong off-season and seems to be a good fit for UT's zone-blocking system, Brown and Oku have been the talk of UT's backfield.

Boils Down To: Brown seems ready to become household SEC names. Still, Hardesty and Poole are better than given credit for.

Offensive Line

There's seniority, albeit much of it is unproven.

No. Player Class Size

Left Tackle

79 Chris Scott Sr. 6-5, 324

71 Dallas Thomas Fr. 6-5, 270

Left Guard

51 Vladimir Richard Sr. 6-4, 300

77 Cody Pope So. 6-6, 288

Center

66 Cody Sullins Sr. 6-1, 260

69 Cory Sullins Sr. 6-1, 270

Right Guard

65 Jacques McClendon Sr. 6-3, 324

54 William Brimfield So. 6-5, 346

Right Tackle

74 Jarrod Shaw Jr. 6-4, 332

78 Aaron Douglas Fr. 6-6, 282

Pre-Kiffin: Offensive lines of UT's recent past have struggled to convert in short-yardage situations. Coaching has played a part. The Vols depended on short passes in such situations under David Cutcliffe in 2006-07 and flip-flopped linemen under Dave Clawson in 2008.

Post-Kiffin: Physical practices should have toughened the Vols up front, although it may have cost them center Josh McNeil, who started 35 games but could be done playing football because of bad knees. UT's new staff has said they're dedicated to running the football.

Boils Down To: How dedicated will UT's coaches really be to running the football? Fans have heard it before. Remember Kiffin and coordinator Jim Chaney have backgrounds in high-flying passing offenses. Douglas has special talent. Will Shaw be able to hold him off?

Wide Receivers

Unproven players lead the charge. Talented youngsters are ready to emerge.

No. Player Class Size

X

7 Nu'Keese Richardson Fr. 5-9, 165

1 Brandon Warren Jr. 6-2, 215

22 Rod Wilks Fr. 6-0, 220

Z

87 Quintin Hancock Sr. 6-3, 210

10 Marsalis Teague Fr. 5-10, 180

F

83 Zach Rogers Fr. 6-2, 170

85 Todd Campbell So. 6-0, 186

Injured

4 Gerald Jones Jr. 6-0, 200

6 Denarius Moore Jr. 6-1, 190

Pre-Kiffin: The Vols struggled to get last year's receivers "open in space," as Clawson had promised would be the key to his offense. Confusion reigned, which led to bad routes and poor chemistry with the quarterbacks.

Post-Kiffin: UT stole two top prospects from the Florida Gators. Teague and Richardson have lived up to their billing in practice. Warren continues to draw his coaches' ire but also consistently turns in highlight plays in practice. Hancock has been a consistent practice player, but that's nothing new.

Boils Down To: Richardson and Teague proved right away they're playmakers. Warren and Hancock will need to provide stability until Jones and Moore return, possibly by the Florida game Sept. 19. Coaches need to find ways to get Richardson the ball in unique ways to capitalize on his explosiveness. Will Hancock finally break out?

Tight Ends

If coaches could only take the best of both.

No. Player Class Size

80 Jeff Cottam Sr. 6-8, 260

88 Luke Stocker Jr. 6-6, 245

39 Ben Bartholomew So. 6-2, 250

Pre - Kiffin: UT played plenty of double tight end sets under Cutcliffe and Clawson. That got the Vols' tight ends on the field but didn't ensure they were productive. Tight ends of recent years were also asked to learn a hybrid tight end/fullback position.

Post-Kiffin: The Vols' tight ends now have a more defined role. Rollouts, which were a mainstay for Southern California under Kiffin, should provide some opportunities. Kiffin's offense gets the tight ends open. But Stocker has dropped passes in camp.

Boils Down To: The Vols can't become predictable with substitutions. That could be a challenge. It's pretty obvious that Stocker is better in the passing game and Cottam is the better blocker. Stocker will have to catch the ball consistently to stay on the field.

Fullbacks

A return to an I-formation offense could signal a renaissance for a once proud position.

No. Player Class Size

45 Kevin Cooper Jr. 6-0, 245

40 Austin Johnson So. 6-2, 234

Pre-Kiffin: UT hasn't been dedicated to having a power fullback as a part of its offense in years. Past offensive coordinators sent fullbacks in motion or made them tight ends, limiting their blocking effectiveness.

Post-Kiffin: The Vols' new running game will rely more on a traditional blocking fullback. Cooper and Johnson have also shown potential catching passes.

Boils Down To: How involved will Kiffin want to get UT's fullbacks with more explosive players elsewhere?

Defensive Ends

They'll be free. Now they just have to be more productive.

No. Player Class Size

Right End

84 Chris Walker Jr. 6-3, 235

90 Stephen Fowlkes So. 6-4, 229

Left End

57 Gerald Williams Jr. 6-4, 226

86 Willie Bohannon Fr. 6-2, 230

99 Ben Martin Jr. 6-3, 239

Pre-Kiffin: UT's last coaching staff spoke glowingly about the potential of their young defensive ends, yet it relied on older players. Whether it was coaching or talent, UT hasn't been productive enough at end in years.

Post-Kiffin: The Vols' ends say defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin allows them more freedom and line coach Ed Orgeron is a whiz on fundamentals. Walker seems destined to be a star following a strong spring and solid preseason camp. Williams is one of the best athletes on the team and has come on late.

Boils Down To: Just how talented are these guys? There have been flashes of greatness. But can they take over games? When will Martin truly emerge?

Defensive Tackles

There are playmakers afoot but they'll need to stay healthy.

No. Player Class Size

Nose Tackle

93 Montori Hughes Fr. 6-4, 312

55 Dan Williams Sr. 6-3, 327

97 Chase Nelson Jr. 6-4, 292

52 Victor Thomas Jr. 6-4, 286

Defensive Tackle

94 Wes Brown Sr. 6-4, 257

46 Andre Mathis Sr. 6-2, 280

58 Marlon Walls Fr. 6-4, 280

Pre-Kiffin: UT once boasted a deep, talented corps of dominant defensive tackles. That hasn't been the case since the Vols fielded John Henderson and Albert Haynesworth in 2001.

Post-Kiffin: Brown has earned respect from his coaches even while battling through chronically sore knees. The vocal Hughes has impressed coaches with his physical ability but sometimes strays from his gap responsibilities.

Boils Down To: How many snaps can the Vols get out of Brown? Will Hughes off-season potential transfer to games? Aside from Williams, do the Vols have any solid players to provide depth?

Linebackers

UT's search for that next great linebacker continues.

No. Player Class Size

Weakside

5 Rico McCoy Sr. 6-1, 220

43 Savion Frazier Jr. 6-2, 221

47 Jerod Askew Fr. 6-1, 230

44 Josh Hawkins So. 6-1, 223

Middle

56 Nick Reveiz Jr. 5-10, 220

34 Herman Lathers Fr. 6-1, 213

37 Nigel Mitchell-Thornton Fr. 6-0, 229

Strongside

42 LaMarcus Thompson Jr. 6-1, 221

48 Greg King Fr. 6-3, 205

9 Daryl Vereen Jr. 6-0, 213

Pre-Kiffin: Former defensive coordinator John Chavis regularly got the best out of his linebackers, even in off years. However, Chavis usually had at least one superbly talented linebacker to build around.

Post-Kiffin: Reveiz has impressed the new staff, much like the old. Some believe he is UT's best linebacker, thanks to a strong off-season. Frazier and Lathers have shown flashes in preseason camp. UT's freshmen have made some plays as well.

Boils Down To: McCoy is the closest thing the Vols have to a budding playmaker but he hasn't lived up to expectations yet. Is this the year? Reveiz is small. Can he stay healthy?

Safeties

A safety for the Heisman Trophy? That says it all.

No. Player Class Size

Strong Safety

14 Eric Berry Jr. 5-11, 203

23 Prentiss Waggner So. 6-2, 177

3 Darren Myles Fr. 6-1, 190

Free Safety

41 Dennis Rogan Jr. 5-10, 178

15 Janzen Jackson Fr. 6-0, 174

6 Derrick Furlow Sr. 6-1, 190

Pre-Kiffin: Berry overcame a bad team last season and solidified his standing as one of the best players in the country. Demetrice Morley left the team for a second time after proving again to be undisciplined on and off the field.

Post-Kiffin: The Vols say they'll move Berry around to keep offenses guessing. Jackson came on strong in camp and is battling Rogan for the other safety spot.Rogan is simply a playmaker, and Jackson has the physical ability to be special.

Boils Down To: Berry is the star. Don't put too much on him and let him play. A rangy free safety that could play center field would be a perfect match.

Cornerback

A wide assortment of players, all fighting for playing time.

No. Player Class Size

Right Cornerback

25 Art Evans So. 6-1, 173

31 Marsalous Johnson Sr. 5-9, 184

Left Cornerback

36 Anthony Anderson So. 6-1, 179

20 Mike Edwards Fr. 5-10, 170

38 C.J. Fleming So. 5-10, 173

Reserves

13 Brent Vinson Jr. 6-0, 201

24 Eric Gordon Fr. 5-10, 187

12 Nyshier Oliver Fr. 5-10, 180

Pre-Kiffin: Rogan was a solid corner but he has since been moved to safety. Vinson is one of the best athletes on the team but has been hurt or in the coaches' doghouse far too often. Other veterans have provided solid play but lack explosiveness. Anderson was overlooked by the last staff.

Post-Kiffin: Anderson has performed well in preseason camp. Evans has been sidelined with a knee injury but returned midway through camp. A sore hamstring has limited Vinson.

Boils Down To: Some think Evans is an emerging star. Anderson has great athletic ability but can he hold off younger players? Edwards has been impressive but has a tendency to give up big plays.

Special Teams

The Vols haven't been special here for a while. Pardon the pun.

No. Player Class Size

Punter

96 Chad Cunningham Jr. 6-3, 198

22 David Harrington Jr. 6-3, 185

Placekicker

26 Daniel Lincoln Jr. 6-0, 203

96 Chad Cunningham Jr. 6-3, 198

Kickoffs

96 Chad Cunningham Sr. 6-3, 198

26 Daniel Lincoln Jr. 6-0, 203

Kick Returners

27 David Oku Fr. 5-10, 186

41 Dennis Rogan Jr. 5-10, 178

Punt Returner

7 Nu'Keese Richardson Fr. 5-9, 165

41 Dennis Rogan Jr. 5-10, 178

Long Snapper

53 Morgan Cox Sr. 6-4, 226

Holder

9 Bram Cannon Sr. 6-2, 195

Pre-Kiffin: Lincoln had a good freshman year but struggled as a sophomore. Cunningham also struggled last season when he was thrust into the starting role because of former punter Britton Colquitt's suspension. Special teams were sometimes an afterthought in previous years.

Post-Kiffin: Lincoln and Cunningham have improved this off-season. Cunningham's leg is noticeably stronger. Special teams have been a priority, led by coordinator Eddie Gran.

Boils Down To: What can the explosive Richardson (who has dropped some punts in practice) do in a game? Will Lincoln bounce back? Can Cunningham be as dominant in games as he has been at times in practice? If so, the Vols have a weapon there.

n Projected starters in bold