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To say that the 2014 recruiting class is going to be an important part of the future of Tennessee is an understatement. The Volunteers played 21 true freshman last year, the most in the country. I decided to go through each freshmen (so JUCO's aren't included) and see what impact they will make at Tennessee this season. This list goes alphabetically.
Derek Barnett- The best freshmen defensive linemen in the country last year. A premier pass rusher and future first round pick. Recruiting services usually get it right, but you watch Barnett and wonder how he wasn't a five star player. Expect another 10 sack season. Last season, Barnett was 5th in the country in tackles for loss.
Dillon Bates- Bates was a solid reserve linebacker before an injury forced him to redshirt last year. He most likely won't be a starter this year, but no doubt will get a lot of playing time, especially in nickle packages.
Evan Berry- The fourth safety and a guy making some good noise this year, he became the Volunteers kickoff returner last year and was second in the SEC in kickoff return yardage. There's a chance he could be the starting strong safety next year.
Elliot Berry- A special teams gamer, Berry played nine games last year and figures to be part of the linebacker rotation. He should make more of an impact on the defensive side as a junior and senior.
Gavin Bryant- The middle linebacker redshirted last year and doesn't look to play much this year. It hasn't worked out so far, but not all freshmen can play immediately. Could be a guy that makes an impact his third or fourth year in the program, but with so much depth at linebacker for Tennessee, he could be the odd man out.
Neiko Creamer- It's been a wild ride for Creamer so far. He started out at wide receiver, then moved to linebacker, and is now at tight end. After redshirting last year, he's expect to play some as he is only one of three scholarship tight ends right now that has played the position before. He could provide some nice depth at tight end and see playing time this year.
Rashaan Gaulden- The local product was going to be the starting nickle after a nice freshmen year on special teams, but a broken foot has set him back some. Still, Gaulden has great athleticism and will be a factor at Tennessee. He will very important next year with two senior safeties gone and Cameron Sutton potentially going to the NFL.
Daniel Helm- Helm had a nice freshman year as the backup to Ethan Wolf, but it never clicked for Daniel here and he transferred. He would have been the backup again and provide nice depth but he's off to Duke to play for David Cutcliffe.
Joe Henderson- Henderson never got to play for Tennessee after academic issues and I'm not sure he would have seen a lot of playing time with so much defensive line talent. He's currently at Hutchinson CC and has some nice offers, but I don't believe he would have been an impact player here.
Dewayne Hendrix- This was a disappointing transfer in my opinion. He would have been a good fit here. He played seven games last year and I think would have saw some playing time this year. Tennessee is fine without him, but he's a talented player that will make an impact at Pitt.
Jalen Hurd- Hey, a guy who is still here! We know how good he is. He's not the superb athlete we thought, but he's a mature runner and excellent north/south guy that can do everything. He's the starting tailback and I expect a 1,000 yard season from him this year. Future NFL talent.
Jakob Johnson- Along with Creamer, it's been a weird route for Johnson. He was recruited to be a defensive end, moved to middle linebacker, and never picked it up. After getting passed over there, he is now at tight end but seems to be doing well there. I like Johnson and thought LEO was his best position, but I hope he redshirts this year and can help at tight end next year. I don't expect much this year.
Todd Kelly Jr.- I absolutely love this kid. He's a playmaker in the secondary and I think he's got NFL talent. He's the third safety right now and can play either spot. He will see a lot of time on passing downs and think be better after an All-SEC freshman team year.
Cortez McDowell- A lot of people believe he will have a big year and I think he will be a good player at Tennessee. He was listed as a DB coming out but moved to linebacker and was a special teams force last year playing in all 13 games. He will play a reserve role and be everywhere on special teams, getting a chance to start at linebacker next year.
Aaron Medley- Medley was the starting kicker for the first game and he never relinquished it. He struggled on long kicks last year, but solidify the job and looks to be a good kicker in the future. He does need to work on his kickoffs to be a truly effective game changer, but I'll take 19-20 from 40 yards in all day.
Emmanuel Moseley- If you want to know if Butch Jones can recognize talent, here's your guy. A low three start originally committed to Charlotte, Moseley not only played as a true freshman, but made two starts and had six pass breakups. He struggled some but got better as the year went on. He will be a starter this year and has big time potential.
Treyvon Paulk- After legal issues, Paulk transferred to Hutchinson CC and looks to play this year. He would have helped, but this was an unfortunate situation all around.
D'Andre Payne- This was a guy I thought would be a good player, but it never worked. He played eight games (basically on special teams) but got passed over by other freshmen and transferred back home to Maryland where he will sit out.
Ray Raulerson- Raulerson was moved to center at Tennessee and redshirted last year as he needed to improve his strength. He doesn't figure to be much of a factor this year and I don't think he's going to play much at Tennessee in the future.
Jashon Robertson- Roberterson was an All-American freshmen guard last year after moving from defensive tackle. He's going to be even better this year. I expect a really nice season from him and a future NFL player.
Michael Sawyers- A disappointing one here. Sawyers was a Tennessee guy who played in four games and would have been nice depth, but couldn't keep his head on straight and is in trouble with the law. I wish these kids knew what they had sometimes.
Derell Scott- Another guy I thought would be a great compliment to Hurd, he struggled with injuries and ended up transferring to ECU. Considering the lack of depth at runningback this year, he would have been nice to have as a third option.
Coleman Thomas- An interesting case here. He was the starter at RT and really struggled, eventually getting benched and looking like he wasn't going to be the answer at tackle. He moved to center, but the coaching gave him another shot at tackle and it looks like he could be the starter there again. He played eleven games last year and I imagine he will at the very least play significant minutes on the offensive line.
Vic Wharton- I thought Wharton needed a redshirt but injuries derailed that idea and he caught five passes last year, including a TD in the bowl win. He was a surprise transfer to Cal, but I'm not sure how much run he would gotten at wide receiver. He will be a nice addition at Cal.
Ethan Wolf- Wolf was the starting tight end last year and figures to play an even more prominent role next year. He had 23 catches and I wouldn't be surprised if that number grew to 35 this year. A good blocker, Wolf looks like he could become a great tight end at Tennessee.
Derek Barnett- The best freshmen defensive linemen in the country last year. A premier pass rusher and future first round pick. Recruiting services usually get it right, but you watch Barnett and wonder how he wasn't a five star player. Expect another 10 sack season. Last season, Barnett was 5th in the country in tackles for loss.
Dillon Bates- Bates was a solid reserve linebacker before an injury forced him to redshirt last year. He most likely won't be a starter this year, but no doubt will get a lot of playing time, especially in nickle packages.
Evan Berry- The fourth safety and a guy making some good noise this year, he became the Volunteers kickoff returner last year and was second in the SEC in kickoff return yardage. There's a chance he could be the starting strong safety next year.
Elliot Berry- A special teams gamer, Berry played nine games last year and figures to be part of the linebacker rotation. He should make more of an impact on the defensive side as a junior and senior.
Gavin Bryant- The middle linebacker redshirted last year and doesn't look to play much this year. It hasn't worked out so far, but not all freshmen can play immediately. Could be a guy that makes an impact his third or fourth year in the program, but with so much depth at linebacker for Tennessee, he could be the odd man out.
Neiko Creamer- It's been a wild ride for Creamer so far. He started out at wide receiver, then moved to linebacker, and is now at tight end. After redshirting last year, he's expect to play some as he is only one of three scholarship tight ends right now that has played the position before. He could provide some nice depth at tight end and see playing time this year.
Rashaan Gaulden- The local product was going to be the starting nickle after a nice freshmen year on special teams, but a broken foot has set him back some. Still, Gaulden has great athleticism and will be a factor at Tennessee. He will very important next year with two senior safeties gone and Cameron Sutton potentially going to the NFL.
Daniel Helm- Helm had a nice freshman year as the backup to Ethan Wolf, but it never clicked for Daniel here and he transferred. He would have been the backup again and provide nice depth but he's off to Duke to play for David Cutcliffe.
Joe Henderson- Henderson never got to play for Tennessee after academic issues and I'm not sure he would have seen a lot of playing time with so much defensive line talent. He's currently at Hutchinson CC and has some nice offers, but I don't believe he would have been an impact player here.
Dewayne Hendrix- This was a disappointing transfer in my opinion. He would have been a good fit here. He played seven games last year and I think would have saw some playing time this year. Tennessee is fine without him, but he's a talented player that will make an impact at Pitt.
Jalen Hurd- Hey, a guy who is still here! We know how good he is. He's not the superb athlete we thought, but he's a mature runner and excellent north/south guy that can do everything. He's the starting tailback and I expect a 1,000 yard season from him this year. Future NFL talent.
Jakob Johnson- Along with Creamer, it's been a weird route for Johnson. He was recruited to be a defensive end, moved to middle linebacker, and never picked it up. After getting passed over there, he is now at tight end but seems to be doing well there. I like Johnson and thought LEO was his best position, but I hope he redshirts this year and can help at tight end next year. I don't expect much this year.
Todd Kelly Jr.- I absolutely love this kid. He's a playmaker in the secondary and I think he's got NFL talent. He's the third safety right now and can play either spot. He will see a lot of time on passing downs and think be better after an All-SEC freshman team year.
Cortez McDowell- A lot of people believe he will have a big year and I think he will be a good player at Tennessee. He was listed as a DB coming out but moved to linebacker and was a special teams force last year playing in all 13 games. He will play a reserve role and be everywhere on special teams, getting a chance to start at linebacker next year.
Aaron Medley- Medley was the starting kicker for the first game and he never relinquished it. He struggled on long kicks last year, but solidify the job and looks to be a good kicker in the future. He does need to work on his kickoffs to be a truly effective game changer, but I'll take 19-20 from 40 yards in all day.
Emmanuel Moseley- If you want to know if Butch Jones can recognize talent, here's your guy. A low three start originally committed to Charlotte, Moseley not only played as a true freshman, but made two starts and had six pass breakups. He struggled some but got better as the year went on. He will be a starter this year and has big time potential.
Treyvon Paulk- After legal issues, Paulk transferred to Hutchinson CC and looks to play this year. He would have helped, but this was an unfortunate situation all around.
D'Andre Payne- This was a guy I thought would be a good player, but it never worked. He played eight games (basically on special teams) but got passed over by other freshmen and transferred back home to Maryland where he will sit out.
Ray Raulerson- Raulerson was moved to center at Tennessee and redshirted last year as he needed to improve his strength. He doesn't figure to be much of a factor this year and I don't think he's going to play much at Tennessee in the future.
Jashon Robertson- Roberterson was an All-American freshmen guard last year after moving from defensive tackle. He's going to be even better this year. I expect a really nice season from him and a future NFL player.
Michael Sawyers- A disappointing one here. Sawyers was a Tennessee guy who played in four games and would have been nice depth, but couldn't keep his head on straight and is in trouble with the law. I wish these kids knew what they had sometimes.
Derell Scott- Another guy I thought would be a great compliment to Hurd, he struggled with injuries and ended up transferring to ECU. Considering the lack of depth at runningback this year, he would have been nice to have as a third option.
Coleman Thomas- An interesting case here. He was the starter at RT and really struggled, eventually getting benched and looking like he wasn't going to be the answer at tackle. He moved to center, but the coaching gave him another shot at tackle and it looks like he could be the starter there again. He played eleven games last year and I imagine he will at the very least play significant minutes on the offensive line.
Vic Wharton- I thought Wharton needed a redshirt but injuries derailed that idea and he caught five passes last year, including a TD in the bowl win. He was a surprise transfer to Cal, but I'm not sure how much run he would gotten at wide receiver. He will be a nice addition at Cal.
Ethan Wolf- Wolf was the starting tight end last year and figures to play an even more prominent role next year. He had 23 catches and I wouldn't be surprised if that number grew to 35 this year. A good blocker, Wolf looks like he could become a great tight end at Tennessee.
