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EARLY
BIRD 2008 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2007 |
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TENNESSEE
VOLUNTEERS |
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OFFENSE
- 8 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 7 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Erik Ainge-QB, Chris Brown-TE, Brad Cottam-TE,
Eric Young-OT |
DEFENSE:
Xavier
Mitchell-DE, J.T. Mapu-DT, Antonio Reynolds-DE,
Ryan Karl-SLB, Jarod Parrish-SS, Jonathan
Hefney-FS |
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Receiver
/ Linebacker |
Wideouts
Briscoe, Rogers and Taylor`were
clutch performers in 2007. The
M&M Brothers (Mayo and McCoy)
carry on the Knoxville LB tradition
- both made the conference list
of top ten tacklers, good enough
for All-SEC honors. |
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Quarterback
/ Defensive End |
Four-year
starter Erik Ainge finally moves
on. All eyes will be on the
QB battle this spring. Conversely,
the Vols ranked 85th nationally
in terms of getting to the QB.
They need a few DEs to emerge
so as to aid the plight of a
struggling secondary. |
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RB
Arian Foster |
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LB
Jerod Mayo |
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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 2008 Preseason Preview due out this
coming spring. |
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TENNESSEE
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Jonathan
Crompton-Jr |
.. |
TB |
Arian
Foster-Sr |
Montario
Hardesty-Jr |
WR |
Lucas
Taylor-Sr |
Denarius
Moore-So |
WR |
Austin
Rogers-Jr |
Quintin
Hancock-Jr |
WR |
Josh
Briscoe-Sr |
Gerald
Jones-So |
TE |
Jeff
Cottam-Jr |
Luke
Stocker-So |
OT |
Chris
Scott-Jr |
.. |
OG |
Anthony
Parker-Sr |
.. |
C |
Josh
McNeil-Jr |
.. |
OG |
Jacques
McClendon-Jr |
.. |
OT |
Ramon
Foster-Sr |
.. |
K |
Daniel
Lincoln-So |
.. |
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TENNESSEE
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Wes
Brown-Jr |
.. |
DT |
Demonte
Bolden-Sr |
Walter
Fisher-Sr |
DT |
Dan
Williams-Jr |
.. |
DE |
Robert
Ayers-Sr |
.. |
SLB |
Adam
Myers-White-Sr |
.. |
MLB |
Jerod
Mayo-Sr |
Ellix
Wilson-Sr |
WLB |
Rico
McCoy-Jr |
Nevin
McKenzie-Sr |
CB |
Brent
Vinson-So |
.. |
CB |
DeAngelo
Willingham-Sr |
Marsalous
Johnson-Jr |
SS |
Eric
Berry-So |
.. |
FS |
Ricardo
Kemp-Jr |
.. |
P |
Britton
Colquitt-Sr |
.. |
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QUICK
ANALYSIS |
Defending
the SEC East title in Knoxville will be
a challenge now that four-year starter (and
holder of numerous school passing records)
Erik Ainge finally moves on. Finding the
person to fill his shoes will be the biggest
task. High School Parade All-American Jonathan
Crompton will get the first shot and is
the only QB on the roster to have received
any snaps in '07. Even though division rivals
Florida and Georgia will likely be coming
in as top five preseason favorites, don't
count out Phil Fulmer's team just yet. The
surrounding talent carries a qualified résumé.
TB Arian Foster recorded his first 1000-yard
season and is currently just 129 yards short
of UT's all-purpose record for yards in
a season. The only other significant loss
on offense other than at QB is the loss
of TE Chris Brown. The Vols have the fewest
number of senior offensive starters in the
entire SEC. The defense, too, has much about
which to be positive. The team’s top
two tacklers are back at LB after both earned
All-SEC post-season honors. The big surprise
of ’07 has been the emergence of Eric
Berry at safety. In his first year he snagged
a team leading five interceptions and earned
Freshman All-American honors (Rivals.com).
However, this secondary has a ways to go
in terms of chemistry. The nation's 84th
ranked pass defense is going to need a few
new DEs to supply more pressure after UT
finished as the nation's 85th ranked sacking
team. There is certainly work to be done
by this coaching staff if it wishes to get
back to Atlanta. Enough talent exists to
rank this team higher, but no one is quite
sure how the Vols will respond after losing
long time starter Erik Ainge. They may not
miss him at all. For certain, this will
be at the top of the SEC headlines as next
season rolls around.
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TENNESSEE
2008 SCHEDULE
8-30
UAB
9-6 at UCLA
9-20 FLORIDA
9-27 at Auburn
10-4 NORTHERN ILLINOIS
10-11 at Georgia
10-18 MISSISSIPPI STATE
10-25 ALABAMA
11-1 at South Carolina
11-8 WYOMING
11-22 at Vanderbilt
11-29 KENTUCKY
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