We know. It’s too early.
But at least we waited until after National Signing Day so we’ll know at least a vast majority of who will be on Tennessee’s roster in 2015 before coming out with our first look at some depth chart projections for 2015.
This is an extremely inexact science. A lot can change between late February and the start of fall camp in August. Injuries, potential transfers, spring practice results, academics and more can all change the outlook of how the two-deep will look heading into next season.
But with just a few more weeks before spring practice starts, we thought it would be a good chance to get the conversation started, and then we’ll re-visit it after spring practice. All of these are educated guesses for what the opening-week depth chart might look like when the Vols face Bowling Green on Sept. 5 in Nashville.
We’re going with a simple two-deep at most spots, but may bracket or expand if needed. And because Tennessee essentially has two base defenses – the nickel look (4-2-5) and the base 4-3 – we have 12 starting spots on defense. The offensive side is projected for a 3-wide receiver, 1 RB, 1 TE set – the formation we saw from UT the most in 2014.