2 Vols who could see their roles increase and 2 who could see their roles decrease in 2023
The Tennessee Vols' offense will have a different look in 2023 than it had in 2022. Tennessee is replacing several key players from their 2022 squad. Gone are Hendon Hooker, Jalin Hyatt, Cedric Tillman, Darnell Wright, and Jerome Carvin. Replacing them are Joe Milton, Dont'e Thornton, Squirrel White, John Campbell, and Andrej Karic. In addition […]
The Tennessee Vols' offense will have a different look in 2023 than it had in 2022.
Tennessee is replacing several key players from their 2022 squad.
Gone are Hendon Hooker, Jalin Hyatt, Cedric Tillman, Darnell Wright, and Jerome Carvin.
Replacing them are Joe Milton, Dont'e Thornton, Squirrel White, John Campbell, and Andrej Karic.
In addition to some new faces at the top of the depth chart, there could also be some role changes for players — specifically when it comes to playing time.
Two Vols on the offensive side of the ball should see their roles increase and two Vols will probably see their roles decrease a bit.
These are all kind of intertwined, so I'll give my explanation below.
Roles potentially decreasing:
- Jabari Small — RB
- Ramel Keyton — WR
Roles potentially increasing:
- Dylan Sampson — RB
- Squirrel White — WR
Let's start at running back.
I think it's pretty obvious after last season that Sampson is the most explosive running back on Tennessee's roster.
Sampson had some issues in pass protection early in the season (in the LSU game specifically), but he cleaned that up and was featured more near the end of the season. I'd be shocked if he doesn't get more playing time in 2023. And Small, despite being a tough player (he played through a shoulder injury most of the season), is more likely to lose carries than Jaylen Wright.
Wright is faster than Small and he showed last season that he can be a physical runner, too. I can't see Wright's carries decreasing and Small's staying the same. That's not to say we won't see Small at all in 2023, I just don't think he'll be the "starter" as he was in 2022.
As for wide receiver, this was a bit tougher.
Keyton was absolutely huge for the Vols in 2022. He stepped up in a big way when Cedric Tillman went down with a sprained ankle in Tennessee's second game of the year. Keyton made numerous big catches for the Vols — the diving catch against Florida, the catch on the final drive against Alabama, and his long touchdown reception against Clemson in the Orange Bowl.
Tennessee, however, mostly utilizes three wide receivers during drives (because they use tempo, they don't often sub). Bru McCoy is locked in as a move the chains possession receiver. Squirrel White will be taking over the Jalin Hyatt role of the main deep threat for the Vols. And Dont'e Thornton, an Oregon transfer, is a dynamic receiver that has the potential to win the Biletnikoff Award in 2023. Thornton is big (6-foot-5), fast, and he's capable of making plays in space. He's a perfect fit in the Vols' offense and provides Josh Heupel with some more options when it comes to calling plays.
Keyton will still be a factor (and he should be), plus he could end up playing a big role in the event of an injury. But I wouldn't expect to see him receive as many snaps as he did last season.
While fans might not like the idea of Small and Keyton seeing their roles reduced, one thing about this is certain — it's a good problem for Tennessee to have.
Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
