Five Tennessee Vols on offense to watch in Orange and White game on Saturday

The Orange and White game is upon us, as the Tennessee Vols will take to Neyland Stadium on Saturday to showcase the progress the team has made in spring practice.   Like most years, there are a number of settled positions and incumbent starters across the roster.  However, there are a number of key roster battles […]

Craig Smith College Football & NFL Trending News Writer
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Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II (11) during UT's first spring football practice on Monday, March 18, 2024.
Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II (11) during UT’s first spring football practice on Monday, March 18, 2024. Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Orange and White game is upon us, as the Tennessee Vols will take to Neyland Stadium on Saturday to showcase the progress the team has made in spring practice.  

Like most years, there are a number of settled positions and incumbent starters across the roster.  However, there are a number of key roster battles and newcomers trying to find a place on the field.  That's especially the case with the transfer portal in full swing, with new faces trying to find out if the grass was indeed greener on the other side. 

Here are five Volunteers on the offensive side of the ball to keep an eye on Saturday. 

Khalifa Keith and DeSean Bishop

How will this running back rotation fill out?  Because we know with Josh Heupel that there absolutely will be one.  Dylan Sampson could be more of a lead back than we've seen in previous years.  That's what happens when you lose two guys to the NFL and the new guys don't have all that much experience.  Cameron Seldon is surely in the mix as well. 

But there's room for Khalifa Keith and/or DeSean Bishop to join that duo and make it a trio again.  One of them should work their way in.  Is it Keith's brawn, or is it Bishop's speed?  

Chris Brazzell II

The Vols have a lot of options at the wide receiver position, and I honestly think Dont'e Thornton could be a bit of an X factor for the group because of his positional versatility and how well he was playing on the outside last year before he got hurt. 

However, let's be real.  Brazzell is an intriguing talent whose ceiling is very high.  An early rapport with Nico Iamaleava in a game situation would be a great sign for Tennessee's offense entering spring ball. 

Holden Staes

He was one of the top tight ends in the portal and clearly has significant upside as a pass catcher.  The Irish were kind of jammed with tight ends, so his usage wasn't what it could have been elsewhere.  

Heupel hasn't used his tight ends all that much in his offense, but Staes' talent might cause the ball to come his way more than other tight ends have – if he can live up to his potential. 

Vysen Lang

The Vols have a number of players dealing with ailments, and as of now it sounds like Javontez Spraggins, Cooper Mays, Andrej Karic aren't expected to play, along with Jackson Lampley, so there could be opportunities for other players to showcase their talents.  Vysen Lang is among those with a potential shot to claim the left guard spot, the only starting position that appears to be up for grabs this offseason. 

Lang should be on the field a good bit on Saturday, either at left guard or center.  A good performance to cap the spring could be a strong sign of his chances to claim a significant role on UT's offensive line this fall.