‘I don’t think it’s settled’ – A decision that appeared clear for Tennessee suddenly isn’t and it won’t be settled when the season starts
The Tennessee Vols still have a key offensive position battle that needs to be settled, and it likely won’t be settled by the time the season gets underway.
A key position battle for the Tennessee Vols that appeared to be trending in a specific direction suddenly isn’t so clear.
Earlier this month, it looked like LSU transfer addition Ory Williams was trending to win the Vols’ starting right tackle job.
But after Tennessee’s second fall scrimmage, it appears that’s no longer the case.
Ory Williams could still be the guy, but the right tackle position battle won’t be settled by the start of the 2026 season
It may be Williams who gets the start at right tackle in the season opener against Furman, but it sounds like Tennessee’s right tackle battle will continue into the season.
“I think that the right tackle position is certainly still up for grabs,” said VolQuest’s Brent Hubbs on WNML’s SportsTalk this week. “I don’t think it’s settled. I don’t know that it’ll be settled through Week 1. You’ll see them play probably multiple right tackles. They’ll play a lot of people in Week 1, but I think that one will not be settled probably until after Week 1.
“And then it’s about who [they] have the most confidence in going on the road in a night game (in Week 2 against Georgia Tech) and trying to give a young quarterback as much help as you can give him. So how do you handle that up front? Do you go with the more experienced guy? Do you go maybe with the more talented guy? Who’s the best fit where? I think that one is a ways from being solved.”
Junior Jesse Perry, who started seven games at right tackle and five games at right guard last season, will be one of Tennessee’s starting offensive linemen on the right side this fall.
The only question is whether he’s at right tackle or right guard.
If Williams emerges as the best option at right tackle, then Perry will be the right guard. But if Tennessee decides that Perry is a better option than Williams at right tackle, then it paves the way for either Sham Umarov or West Virginia transfer Donovan Haslam to start at right guard.
Basically, it sounds like Josh Heupel and offensive line coach Glen Elarbee want to use the first game or two of the season to figure out what their best combination is in real game situations.
This will be something interesting for Vols fans to keep an eye on in the season opener against Furman.
