Recent transfer offer suggests Vols identified a problem in spring practice that needs to be addressed
Most of the talk this offseason when it comes to the Tennessee Vols has focused on how the program will fare in 2023 without players like Hendon Hooker, Jalin Hyatt, and Cedric Tillman. While that's a valid discussion that will certainly have a major impact on how the 2023 season plays out for the Vols, […]
Most of the talk this offseason when it comes to the Tennessee Vols has focused on how the program will fare in 2023 without players like Hendon Hooker, Jalin Hyatt, and Cedric Tillman.
While that's a valid discussion that will certainly have a major impact on how the 2023 season plays out for the Vols, a more important talking point might be the offensive line.
Tennessee's offensive line played exceptionally well last season. And that was a major reason why the Vols were able to find success. The key to stopping Tennessee's offense is generating pressure. When UT's offensive line holds up, it makes the Vols nearly unbeatable.
The Volunteers will return 3/5ths of their offensive line from last season (guard Jerome Carvin and right tackle Darnell Wright are off to the NFL). Cooper Mays will return to play center, Javontez Spraggins will once again hold down one of the guard spots, and the combo of Gerald Mincey/Jeremiah Crawford will likely handle right tackle duties (they played left tackle in 2022).
Miami transfer John Campbell is expected to play left tackle for UT.
That leaves one of the guard positions to fill. The hope for Tennessee was that Texas transfer Andrej Karic would start at guard. But based on a recent transfer offer from the Vols, it seems like Tennessee isn't necessarily sold on Karic as a starter in 2023.
Josh Heupel and the Vols recently offered Wyoming interior offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon.
Pregnon committed to USC on Wednesday so he won't be heading to Knoxville. But the fact that the Vols went after the highly touted offensive lineman, who is expected to be an immediate starter at his next destination, certainly suggests that Tennessee isn't satisfied with their starting guard options (redshirt senior Ollie Lane, who has five career starts at UT, has been mentioned as a starting option at guard in 2023 as well).
Heupel and his staff aren't known for going wild in the transfer portal. They only bring in players that they feel they absolutely need (part of that is so they don't disrupt the culture they've built at Tennessee).
The offer to Pregnon isn't just because Heupel and his staff think he's a good player, it was because they think he's a good player that Tennessee needs.
Heupel said last week during a Big Orange Caravan stop in Nashville that he'd like to add more "maturity" to the offensive line via the transfer portal. Based on that comment and the offer to Pregnon, I'd expect the Vols to continue to pursue an interior offensive lineman in the transfer portal that could potentially start for Tennessee in 2023.
