Offensive Line
Dontavius Blair
Initial ranking: ★★★★
Was it a good ranking? Only time will tell. Blair had a strong showing in last year’s Orange and White Game, but after a slow start to fall camp the staff elected to redshirt him for the 2014 season. Obviously, that wasn’t the plan for the player who was arguably the odds-on favorite to start at left tackle heading into the summer, but this staff’s decision to redshirt him clearly shows that they think he can help them in 2015 and beyond. The 2014 season gave Blair a chance to learn, develop his body and get plenty of reps against the first team defense as a member of the scout team. We should learn a lot about his impact on Team 119 when spring practice starts in March.
Rerank: Incomplete
Ray Raulerson
Initial ranking: ★★★
Was it a good ranking? We didn’t get to see much of Raulerson during the 2014 season as he went through a redshirt season. We should be able to learn a lot more about him during spring practice when the younger players get a few more opportunities to show what they can do.
Rerank: Incomplete
Jashon Robertson
Initial ranking: ★★★
Was it a good ranking? Not even close. Robertson began his Tennessee career last August as a defensive tackle, but after three days of fall camp he was moved to offensive line and earned the starting job at right guard. He would start all 13 games for Tennessee in 2014 and was the only Vol offensive lineman to start all 13 games at the same position. He didn’t play perfectly, but he played much better than his three-star rating would have suggested and looks like a potential 4-year starter at the position for the Vols. True freshman aren’t supposed to be able to start in the trenches in the SEC, and the Vols got two mid-state studs in Robertson and Derek Barnett. New OC Mike DeBord’s influence should only help Robertson take his game to the next level.
Rerank: ★★★★★
Coleman Thomas
Initial ranking: ★★★
Was it a good ranking? No. Thomas played in 11 games in 2014, and the only two he missed – Alabama and South Carolina – were due to an ankle injury that he suffered against Ole Miss. Thomas started five games for the Vols and looked really good when he wasn’t lining up against the Eric Strikers of the world. Physically, Thomas held up fine against the defensive linemen that he faced. The problem for him – and the rest of Tennessee’s offensive line – came when teams ran stunts and twists to test the Vol linemen’s communication and scheme knowledge. Another year in the weight room, film room and on practice field should have Thomas primed for an even better campaign in 2015.
Rerank: ★★★★
