Josh Heupel evaluates Tennessee's left tackle competition, how it could impact rest of OL

Josh Heupel has his eyes on which Volunteers offensive lineman will be able to set themselves away from the pack to protect Hendon Hooker‘s blindside this upcoming season.

Throughout preparation for the season, competition has raged between Jeremiah Crawford, Gerald Mincey and Dayne Davis for Tennessee’s starting left tackle position. Speaking with the media, Heupel provided some insight into the battle.

“It’s been back and forth for a little bit through training camp,” stated Heupel. “You guys have heard me say this, at the end of the day we’re going to need both of them, all of them. You know, you experience last year, injuries. That’s true at the tackle spot. It’s true on all five spots. Those guys are continuing to compete. That’s not going to stop after today. That will happen all the way up until kickoff. Anticipate both of them playing over the course of the football game throughout the season, and certainly in Week 1. Who gets a majority of that, or what the percentage breakdown is, we’ll continue to evaluate as we go through.

“Both of them have made a bunch of progress from spring ball, and really since the beginning of training camp in understanding what we’re doing offensively. In the run game, playing with better pad level, being able to create some movement upfront. Both of them take major strides in the pass-pro side of it, too. So I feel like those guys are continuing to progress as they should.”

Earlier this offseason, Tennessee offensive line coach Glen Elarbee shared the same sentiment as Heupel.

“Man, they’re all doing well, competing,” Elarbee said last month. “It was the first day of pads yesterday, I thought they all, including those three, kind of melted a little bit just with the heat. Came back today, we’re flying around. Doing well, man. To say who’s where or what, I couldn’t do that for you if that’s where that sucker’s heading, but they’re competing really, really well.”

While competition continues on one side of the offensive line, Heupel revealed that the plan is for Darnell Wright to remain anchored down on the right side of the unit.

“Yeah, at this point,” Heupel answered, when asked if he believed Wright would be able to stay at right tackle. “We plan to keep Darnell at the right side.”

As you can see, Josh Heupel is making plans for the Tennessee offensive line, and his players have responded well to competition. While there can only be one starter, all of the Volunteers athletes will need to be ready if the team is to have the success they want to have in 2022.