Freshman of the Year
Nathanael: Ty Chandler, RB
I’m a little surprised only one of us chose Trey Smith. It was a battle for me to choose between him and Chandler, but I ultimately chose Chandler because of his explosive play-making ability he’s shown this fall. Chandler will likely end up being the Vols’ No. 2 option at running back, and I foresee him making some plays on special teams as well. Chandler has a bright future at Tennessee, and I think that starts off with a bang his freshman year.
Will: Josh Palmer, WR
I’m not sure this is a very difficult pick. Butch Jones has made it clear multiple times that Palmer will play a prominent role in Tennessee’s offense. And if he can step up and be a go-to guy, it takes some pressure off of the offensive MVP Jauan Jennings. Palmer’s size and athleticism makes him a dangerous deep threat. You’ll see a lot of downfield connections to Palmer, which is why I think he makes the biggest impact out of UT’s freshmen.
Mason: Trey Smith, OL
Surprise, surprise. This guy is going to help lead the O-Line, and rightfully so. He’s versatile and SEC ready. Guys like Will Ignont and Ty Chandler will see some decent time as well.
With Josh Malone leaving early for the NFL and Josh Smith out with an injury, Tennessee desperately needs somebody to step up alongside Jauan Jennings, Tyler Byrd and Marquez Callaway at receiver. That guy will be Josh Palmer, the freshman wide receiver out of Florida. Palmer has a good chance to catch 20-to-30 passes this year, which is quite a bit for a true freshman.
