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EARLY
BIRD 2007 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2006 |
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TENNESSEE
VOLUNTEERS |
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OFFENSE
- 8 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 6 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Cory Anderson-FB, Jayson Swain-WR, Bret Smith-WR,
Arron Sears-OT, David Ligon-OG, James Wilhoit-K |
DEFENSE:
Turk
McBride-DT, Justin Harrell-DT, Matt McGlothlin-DT,
Marvin Mitchell-MLB, Jonathan Wade-CB, Antwan
Stewart-CB |
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Quarterback/Running
Back |
Erik
Ainge continues to get better
with each passing week. He will
put the Vols in a nice position
to be the new SEC East favorite.
Upwards of three quality TBs
provide fresh legs and problems
for defenses. |
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Defensive
Tackle/Cornerback |
New
tackles need to be found, which
has not been a problem here
in the past. A healthy Inky
Johnson would lessen the CB
concerns. Johnson has a chance
to be one of the better cover
men in the SEC. |
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QB
Erik Ainge |
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DB
Jonathan Hefney |
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* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic
gauge for listing players that departed and players
that received the most playing experience (consistent
starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance
of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts,
transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups
and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our
full 2007 Preseason Preview due out this coming
spring. |
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TENNESSEE
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Erik
Ainge-Sr |
Jonathan
Crompton-So |
FB |
.. |
.. |
TB |
Montario
Hardesty-So |
LaMarcus
Coker-So / Arian Foster-Jr |
WR |
.. |
.. |
WR |
Robert
Meachem-Sr |
Lucas
Taylor-Jr |
TE |
Chris
Brown-Sr |
Brad
Cottam-Sr |
OT |
.. |
.. |
OG |
.. |
.. |
C |
Josh
McNeil-So |
Michael
Frogg-Sr |
OG |
Anthony
Parker-Jr |
.. |
OT |
Eric
Young-Sr |
.. |
K |
.. |
.. |
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DEFENSE |
DE |
Xavier
Mitchell-Sr |
Wes
Brown-So |
DT |
Demonte'
Bolden-Jr |
.. |
DT |
.. |
.. |
DE |
Antonio
Reynolds-Sr |
Robert
Ayers-Jr |
SLB |
Ryan
Karl-Sr |
.. |
MLB |
Ellix
Wilson-Jr |
.. |
WLB |
Jerod
Mayo-Jr |
Rico
McCoy-So |
CB |
.. |
.. |
CB |
Inquoris
Johnson-Jr |
.. |
SS |
Demetrice
Morley-Jr |
Antonio
Wardlow-So |
FS |
Jonathan
Hefney-Sr |
.. |
P |
Britton
Colquitt-Jr |
.. |
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QUICK
ANALYSIS |
Soon-to-be
a senior Erik Ainge got better as 2006 progressed
and so did the Volunteers. Look for Ainge
to be one of the better QBs across the land
in ‘07; ergo Tennessee will be better
in the process as well. He has a stable
of RBs from which to choose. Between them,
they have over 1300 yards rushing on their
resume. Despite some success, they still
had problems getting the ground game working
against some of the better SEC defenses.
The task of improving the ground game will
have to occur without All-SEC tackle Arron
Sears as the left side of the OL will soon
be depleted. Some new receivers will have
to step into supporting roles to compliment
returning leading WR Robert Meachem, who
managed to amass over 1265 yards worth over
catches in ‘06 (18.9 average). Tight
end could also be considered one of the
Vols' strengths with Brown and Cottam back
in the mix. In short, locating targets should
not be a problem for Ainge. The middle of
the DL falls into the key loss department,
but finding tackles has never seemed to
be a problem for this coaching staff. If
Tennessee has a major concern it may be
at CB. This unit may not be such a rebuilding
process with the return of a healthy Inky
Johnson, who is one of the better cover
men in the SEC. After failing to make a
bowl game in 2005, head coach Phil Fulmer
made some coaching changes. The results
worked well, and Tennessee is right back
into the SEC East title race. While it may
be difficult to place this team in an early
Top 10 status, they could easily get there
before September ends. With a healthy Erik
Ainge leading the charge, the Vols are (least
of all) assured of duplicating their recent
successes. Along with Florida, these are
the two teams to beat in the East.
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TENNESSEE
2007 SCHEDULE
9-1
@ California
9-8 Southern Miss
9-15 @ Florida
9-22 Northern Illinois
10-6 Georgia
10-13 @ Mississippi State
10-20 @ Alabama
10-27 South Carolina
11-3 Louisiana-Lafayette
11-10 Arkansas
11-17 Vanderbilt
11-24 @ Kentucky
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