Tennessee releases official depth chart for Saturday's game against Virginia

Tennessee football on Monday released its official depth chart for the season-opener against Virginia on Saturday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, a Noon Eastern Time kickoff on ABC. The depth chart, the first one the Vols have released so far this season, was delivered after Heupel’s weekly press conference on Monday.

Here’s how the Vols will line up against the Cavaliers:

Quarterback

Starter	Joe Milton III
Backup	Nico Iamaleava
Backup	Gaston Moore
Backup	Navy Shuler

There aren’t any questions at the most important position on the field. Joe Milton III is Tennessee’s starting quarterback. He enters the season as the face of the program. The Vols will go as he goes. Behind him is five-star freshman Nico Iamaleava, the No. 1 recruit in the 2023 class according to the On3 ratings and the player who appears to be just fine waiting his turn behind Milton. Gaston Moore was impressive in the Orange & White Game back in April and Navy Shuler seems to be the fourth option.

Running Back

Starter	Jaylen Wright
-or-	Jabari Small
Backup	Dylan Sampson
Backup	Cameron Seldon

Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small split the load in Tennessee’s underrated run game last season and that should be the case again in 2023. Wright has drawn rave reviews during the offseason and fall camp and Small is the veteran who leads by example in the room. Dylan Sampson was impressive as a freshman and should get more opportunities as a sophomore. Freshmen Cameron Seldon and Khalifa Keith are likely to see more time on special teams during their debut seasons, but could get their share of carries late in lopsided games. Freshman DeSean Bishop was injured during camp and will miss extended time.

Wide Receiver

Starter	Bru McCoy
Starter	Ramel Keyton
Slot	Dont’e Thornton
-or-	Squirrel White
Backup	Chas Nimrod
Backup	Kaleb Webb

The wide receiver positions seem mostly settled, aside from one important question. Bru McCoy and Ramel Keyton have earned their roles as likely starters, but it’s to be determined in the slot. The Vols have two good options there in Squirrel White, who showed his chemistry with Milton in limited opportunities last season, and Oregon transfer Dont’e Thorntonn, who brings freaky size and speed to the position. Tennessee could also play White in the slot and send Thornton to one of the outside receiver positions. Coaches have continually praised redshirt freshmen Chas Nimrod and Kaleb Webb during camp.

Tight End

Starter	Jacob Warren
-or-	McCallan Castles

Tight ends coach Alec Abeln said during fall camp that he slept better at night after Jacob Warren announced he would be returning for one more season at Tennessee. McCallan Castles, the transfer from UC Davis, probably helps Abeln sleep better too. Freshman tight end Ethan Davis has a bright future and a ton of upside, but won’t be forced into a ton of early playing time thanks to the two veterans ahead of him on the depth chart.

Offensive Line

Left Tackle	John Campbell
-or-	Gerald Mincey
Left Guard	Andrej Kuric
-or-	Jackson Lampley
-or-	Ollie Lane
Center	Cooper Mays
Backup	Ollie Lane
–or-	Dayne Davis
Right Guard	Javontez Spraggins
Backup	Addison Nichols
Right Tackle	Jeremiah Crawford
–or-	Gerald Mincey

Offensive line is where projecting Tennessee’s Week 1 depth chart. Offensive coordinator Joey Halzle said Friday that the Vols feel good about their first five options up front and that they’ll be ready to roll against Virginia in Nashville on Saturday.

Cooper Mays will be the starting center when he’s healthy, but when that will be remains to be determined. Mays underwent what Josh Heupel described as a “minor procedure” on August 9, with the head coach adding that he expected it to be “a couple-week deal.” There hasn’t been much of an update since then, but the expectation is that Mays won’t be ready for Virginia.

With no Mays, the expectation is that Ollie Lane will be the center and Dayne Davis will back him up. John Campbell started 11 of 12 games at Miami last season before transferring to Tennessee. Javontez Spraggins started all 13 games at right guard last season and is an All-SEC preseason pick entering 2023.

Defensive Tackle

Starter	Omari Thomas
Backup	Kurott Garland
-or-	Elijah Simmons
Starter	Omarr Norman-Lott
-or-	Bryson Eason
Backup	Daevin Hobbs

Omari Thomas started all 13 games last season, finishing with 26 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. He had four quarterback hits, too, and once again will be leaned on heavily in 2023 at the center of Tennessee’s defensive front. Omarr Norman-Lott should be a difference maker after transferring from Arizona State, with all the feedback being positive during fall camp. Elijah Simmons was an injury casualty during fall camp and could miss the early portions of the season.

Defensive End

Starter	Tyler Baron
-or-	Dominic Bailey
Backup	Tyre West

With Byron Young off to the NFL, the question becomes who can consistently get after the quarterback for Tennessee this season. Dominic Bailey was in the rotation in all 13 games last season. Tyler Baron had 22.0 tackles in 2022, including 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

LEO

Starter	Roman Harrison
Backup	James Pearce
-or-	Joshua Josephs
Backup	Caleb Herring

Roman Harrison looks the part and, in a perfect world, will play the part for Tennessee as a senior this season. He had 39.0 tackles, eighth most on the team, in 2022. He had 7.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks, tied for a team high. James Pearce was an On3 five-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class and played in all 13 games last season, finishing with 5.0 tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.

Weakside Linebacker

Starter	Aaron Beasley
Backup	Kalib Perry
-or-	Arion Carter

Middle Linebacker

Starter	Keenan Pili
Backup	Elijah Herring
-or-	Jeremiah Telander

Aaron Beasley returns after leading Tennessee with 76.0 tackles last season, including 13.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. Former BYU linebacker Keenan Pili has been an important veteran addition out of the NCAA Transfer Portal. Arion Carter has looked the part in fall camp after signing with the Vols as an in-state four-star prospect ranked in the top 125 in the 2023 class. Elijah Herring had 11.0 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks as a freshman last season.

Cornerback

Starter	Doneiko Slaughter
-or-	Gabe Jeudy-Lally
Starter	Kamal Hadden
-or-	Warren Burrell

Tennessee has more bodies to work with in the secondary. The question is who are the best four, five or six options across the defensive backfield. Doneiko Slaughter starred at corner against Kentucky last season and has worked at the position during fall camp. Kamal Hadden has drawn positive reviews and Gabe Jeudy-Lally is another important NCAA Transfer Portal addition out of BYU. Redshirt senior Warren Burrell had a career-high 41.0 tackles in 12 games last season before being sidelined by injury and playing only two games last fall.

Safety

Starter	Wesley Walker
Backup	Andre Turrentine
-or-	Christian Charles
Starter	Jaylen McCollough
Backup	Jourdan Thomas
Backup	Will Brooks

When Tim Banks met with reporters after Friday’s practice and was asked about his safeties, he said it starts with Jaylen McCollough. Andre Turrentine seems to be taking the right steps forward and Wesley Walker had 36.0 tackles, an interception and four passes broken up in 13 games last season after transferring from Georgia Tech. Jourdan Thomas had 10 tackles in 13 games as a freshman last season, too.

Star

Starter	Tamarion McDonald
-or-	Brandon Turnage

Senior Tamarion McDonald was Tennessee’s fourth-leading tackler last season, finishing with 56.0. He had 4.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions, four passes broken up and a fumble recovery, too.

Special Teams

Placekicker	Charles Campbell
Backup	Josh Turbyfill
Punter	Jackson Ross
Backup	Josh Turbyfill
Kickoff	Josh Turbyfill
Backup	Max Gilbert
Longsnapper	Matthew Salansky
Holder	Jackson Ross
Kick Returner	Dee Williams
-or-	Cameron Seldon
Punt Returner	Dee Williams
-or-	Squirrel White