2004 Statistics

Quarterback
Indicative of a one of the nation's deepest teams, there are three proven QBs who will battle for the starting job this spring. Both parts of last fall's dual-freshmen scheme return in Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer, as does senior Rick Clausen, who started the final four games with Ainge and Schaeffer on the mend. Phil Fulmer hopes to have an undisputed starter by the fall, for 2004's "Knoxville Shuffle" only achieved the team's passing efforts a ranking of 40th (efficiency). The hunch here is the job goes to Ainge, who has the best arm and most ability of the three. His poise and decision-making were stellar for a freshman, meaning his upside is worth pursuing. Schaeffer's the more mobile option and will likely have some role in the offense, if he doesn't transfer. Cotton Bowl MVP Clausen, who was surprisingly productive while going 3-1 as a starter, is a durable backup who will be truly able to push for Ainge' s inside edge. He lacks the arm strength of Ainge and Schaeffer, and isn't very mobile. But he's a heady QB who was able to operate within the system, and his leadership ability obviously shouldn't be discounted. With the wealth of talent around them, any of the three can put up good numbers. And, as if they needed it, the Vols landed Jonathan Crompton, a four-star recruit who Rivals.com rates as the No. 2 pro-style QB in the class of 2005. You know, just in case.

Running Back
One half of the two-headed monster is gone, but this area is hardly a question mark with the return of 1,000-yard rusher Gerald Riggs Jr. Big, fast (4.49 in the 40) and powerful, Riggs is capable of shouldering a 2,000-yard type load with the graduation of 1,000-yard counterpart Cedric Houston. The departure of two backups means some depth questions linger, which is a concern with some inexperience on the line. Former walk-on David Yancey, last year's fourth option, will have to show he's capable of being a serious part of the offense. A surprise last spring, Yancey is fast and skilled, though not as powerful as Riggs. LaMarcus Coker (4.3-sec 40), this year's No.2-rated all-purpose back (Rivals.com), is tough after contact, even with his smaller frame. Cory Anderson, a converted DT, is a wrecking ball in short yardage when this offense employs a fullback. He rarely runs the ball (only five carries last fall), but is a sneaky short-route receiving threat out of the backfield (17 catches). Former-track star (shot put, 4x100) David Holbert will impact the FB usage with his all-around skills and speed (if not redshirted).

Receiver
No matter who throws them the ball, this group does a strong job spreading defenses and opening up the run. It returns almost intact as one of the most talented groups of receivers in school history. Expect these guys to make good on that talent, especially with more experience at the QB position. The big-play potential will come from redshirt soph Robert Meachum (18+ yards per catch) and senior C.J. Fayton (17.3), one of whom will become the full-time starter. The two returning starters are dependable. Jayson Swain is a go-to receiver who usually finds a way to get open, while Jason Hannon became a solid possession/all-around guy. There's no superstar here, but plenty of balance and ability, which fits in perfectly with the offensive philosophy.

Tight End
Look for this position to be involved a little more in the passing game. As a freshman, Chris Brown showed receiving ability - with six catches, he caught five more than the entire TE group had in 2003. Brown is svelte and can be tough to cover. At 275 pounds, senior Justin Reed has punishing blocking skills and can also get downfield to occupy LBs.

Offensive Line
Four linemen with starting experience are back. The loss of all-world tackle Michael Munoz would seem to hurt, but this line performed well when he missed the final three games (injuries). Despite a rash of other injuries last fall, the front five still allowed just 17 sacks and paved the way for the No. 3 rushing offense in the SEC. Albert Toeaina, a 350-pound Juco all-American who eventually won the starting job at right tackle, could replace Munoz as the anchor. Experienced backup Richie Gandy should take over at center, though incoming freshman Josh McNeil (Collins, Miss.) could quickly fill that void. This line might not be quite as strong, but it won't suffer much slippage (if any) without Munoz.

OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
The vital spot is QB. The key is choosing the right gunslinger to lead this posse. All of the pieces are already around the three QB candidates for this to be one of the nation's most balanced offenses. Riggs appears ready for a memorable season behind another strong offensive line, the WRs as a whole should be among the best receiving corps the program has ever had, and the TEs and FBs should factor into both the passing and running games. Defenses won't have much to exploit. Expect a conservative approach until Fulmer sees which guy is best this way, and then he will open the offense up more. Last year's numbers reflect competence, not command, of the needs here to succeed, so expect much more once a clear commander is found.

Defensive Line
This group was believed by many to be the driving force in last fall's 10-3 season, and it should be just as menacing with three starters back. Small but quick rush end Parys Haralson is one of the best defenders in the SEC, having ranked fifth in sacks and tackles for losses. Juco-transfer Jesse Mahelona, a 300-pound run plugger, became an instant force in leading the conference in TFLs. Justin Harrell and senior Jason Hall both have nice size at right end. There's depth here, too, with several experienced backups returning and big-time recruit Delmonte Bolden (Tyner Academy, Tenn.) enrolled early. The run defense will be much better than the 120.0 yards per game allowed last fall while putting enough pressure on the QB to disrupt the pass when opponents will inevitably have to throw.

Linebacker
The big question here is if senior MLB Kevin Simon can return to form after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery last September. Quick, instinctive and athletic, Simon is an experienced tackling machine who would be the ideal leader for this defense. Assuming he returns, Jason Mitchell will move from the middle to weak-side, while Omar Gaither will again wreak havoc on the strong-side. Quick (4.5-sec 40) and powerful, Gaither was sixth in the conference in TFLs and third on the team in tackles. Mitchell's even faster at 4.4, which would make him a tough contain at the weak-side spot, which is often used as a rush end. If Simon can't return, there's plenty of depth here (big surprise), led by former Juco-star Jon Poe. Overall, this is a quick-hitting group that meshes perfectly with that strong front-four while using its speed to perform well in pass coverage.

Defensive Back
This area, as well as punting, is the biggest question mark surrounding this team entering spring ball. For a national title to materialize, the secondary has to do better than allowing opposing QBs to complete more than 60 percent of their passes (an SEC-worst). Almost that entire group is back, but expect major changes. The leader here, big-hitting Jason Allen, will move back to cornerback. Someone has to emerge as a dependable starter at the other spot. Fulmer is excited about sophomore CB Joe Hefney, who should improve after a rocky freshman season. Hefney will battle for starting time with Roshaun Fellows, who also started as a freshman last fall, and soph Inky Johnson, who Fulmer has labeled as "dynamic." Corey Campbell returns at strong safety, but he'll have to hold off highly-touted incoming freshmen Demetrice Morley (Killian, Fla.) and Adam Myers-White (Hamilton, Ohio). This area was extremely young and now has the potential to be better. With plenty of emphasis placed here this spring, it will be.

DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
The front seven will be even stronger, but the secondary must improve for this defense to be the type of unit required to win championships. Even with the 86th-ranked pass defense in the country, UT won 10 games. Opponents will inevitably look to exploit that weakness early, but nickel packages with extra LBs should help there. As good as the offense is, SEC defenses will be solid enough to prevent WAC-like scoring performances, which means the defense can't afford to surrender big plays. But a quick pass-rush and leadership from Allen should aid the young talent in the back. Tennessee will keep the play in front of them, so to speak, so the unit can gel and then move forward from there. If they utilize a "big play" mentality, they will over-pursue and be exploited, accordingly.