Tennessee football is just 10 days away from opening up its 2024 season against Chattanooga at Neyland Stadium. That means we’re just five days away from the Vols releasing their first depth chart of the season.
Over the course of the offseason, I’ve tried my hand at what I think Tennessee’s depth chart will look like. But I have been very literal with my projections and have made predictions about who I think the first players on the field will be for Tennessee.
But when the Vols’ first depth chart comes out it will be riddled with “ORs” as Tennessee tries to not give too much away or to extend its position battles into the season. In fact, I went back and looked at the Vols’ inaugural depth chart from last season and there were 20 total “ORs” when you take into account special teams and backups.
Today, I am going to both try and predict what Tennessee’s depth chart will look like on Monday as well as who the first players on the field will be when the Vols open up their season against Chattanooga.
Let’s get into the fun.
More From RTI: How Tennessee Football Is Handling The Final Two Weeks Of The Preseason
Bold = Returning Starter. Italics = Newcomer
Predicting Tennessee’s Depth Chart
Offense
Quarterback
1. Rs-Fr. Nico Iamaleava
2. Rs-Jr. Gaston Moore
3. Fr. Jake Merklinger
Running Back
1. Jr. Dylan Sampson
2. So. Cameron Seldon
-OR-
2. Rs-Fr. DeSean Bishop
4. Fr. Peyton Lewis
Receiver
1. S-Sr. Bru McCoy
2. Sr. Dont’e Thornton
Slot Receiver
1. Jr. Squirrel White
-OR-
1. Jr. Chas Nimrod
Receiver
1. Rs-So. Chris Brazzell II (Tulane)
-OR-
1. Jr. Kaleb Webb
2. Fr. Mike Matthews
Tight End
1. Rs-Fr. Ethan Davis
-OR-
1. Jr. Holden Staes (Notre Dame)
-OR-
1. Sr. Miles Kitselman (Alabama)
Left Tackle
1. So. Lance Heard (LSU)
2. Jr. Larry Johnson III
Left Guard
1. S-Sr. Jackson Lampley
-OR-
1. Jr. Andrej Karic
-OR-
1. R-Fr. Sham Umarov
Center
1. S-Sr. Cooper Mays
2. Rs-Fr. Vysen Lang
Right Guard
1. S-Sr. Javontez Spraggins
2. R-Fr. Sham Umarov
Right Tackle
1. S-Sr. John Campbell Jr.
2. S-Sr. Dayne Davis
Defense
LEO
1. Jr. James Pearce Jr.
2. Jr. Josh Josephs
3. So. Caleb Herring
-OR-
3. Fr. Jordan Ross
Defensive Tackle
1. S-Sr. Omari Thomas
2. So. Daevin Hobbs
-OR-
2. S-Sr. Elijah Simmons
Defensive Tackle
1. R-Sr. Bryson Eason
-OR-
1. R-Sr. Omarr Norman-Lott
3. Jr. Jaxson Moi (Stanford)
Defensive End
1. Rs-Sr. Dominic Bailey
2. Jr. Tyre West
3. R-So. Jayson Jenkins
-OR-
3. Rs-Fr. Tyree Weathersby
MLB
1. S-Sr. Keenan Pili
2. So. Jeremiah Telander
3. Fr. Edwin Spillman
WLB
1. So. Arion Carter
2. Jr. Kalib Perry
Cornerback
1. So. Rickey Gibson III
2. So. Jordan Matthews
Cornerback
1. So. Jermod McCoy (Oregon State)
2. Rs-Jr. Jalen McMurray (Temple)
STAR
1. Rs-So. Christian Harrison
-OR-
1. Fr. Boo Carter
Safety
1. Rs-Jr. Andre Turrentine
2. Rs-Jr. Christian Charles
Safety
1. Rs-Sr. Will Brooks
2. Jr. Jakobe Thomas (MTSU)
-OR-
2. So. John Slaughter
Special Teams
Defense
LEO
1. Jr. James Pearce Jr.
2. Jr. Josh Josephs
3. So. Caleb Herring
4. Fr. Jordan Ross
Defensive Tackle
1. S-Sr. Omari Thomas
2. So. Daevin Hobbs
3. S-Sr. Elijah Simmons
Defensive Tackle
1. R-Sr. Bryson Eason
2. R-Sr. Omarr Norman-Lott
3. Jr. Jaxson Moi (Stanford)
Defensive End
1. Rs-Sr. Dominic Bailey
2. Jr. Tyre West
3. R-So. Jayson Jenkins
4. Rs-Fr. Tyree Weathersby
MLB
1. S-Sr. Keenan Pili
2. So. Jeremiah Telander
3. Fr. Edwin Spillman
WLB
1. So. Arion Carter
2. Jr. Kalib Perry
Cornerback
1. So. Rickey Gibson III
2. So. Jordan Matthews
3. Fr. Kaleb Beasley
Cornerback
1. So. Jermod McCoy (Oregon State)
2. Rs-Jr. Jalen McMurray (Temple)
3. Fr. Kaleb Beasley
STAR
1. Rs-So. Christian Harrison
2. Fr. Boo Carter
3. Rs-Jr. Christian Charles
Safety
1. Rs-Jr. Andre Turrentine
2. Rs-Jr. Christian Charles
3. So. John Slaughter
Safety
1. Rs-Sr. Will Brooks
2. Jr. Jakobe Thomas (MTSU)
3. So. John Slaughter
Special Teams
Kicker
Kicker
1. Rs-So. Josh Turbyville
2. Rs-Jr. JT Carver
3. Rs-Fr. Max Gilbert
Punter
1. Rs-So. Jackson Ross
2. Rs-So. Josh Turbyville
Long Snapper
1. Rs-Sr. Matthew Salansky
2. Rs-So. Bennett Brady
Kick Returner
1. So. Cameron Seldon
2. Fr. Boo Carter
Punt Returner
1. Fr. Boo Carter
2. Jr. Squirrel White
