Next Year's Center

[SWOvol]

Seeing the difference a quality Center seemingly makes in our offense has me wondering: who might be the starting center next year when Cooper leaves? There is exciting young talent and depth at almost every position, except for along the OL. My understanding is that the two backups to Cooper right now are Ollie Lane and Dayne Davis, all of whom will likely be gone next year.

Anyone have any insights on this?

 

[robbymoore94]

I would assume there will be some play in the free agency, I mean portal in the offseason in the O line area.

 

[Bloodrunsorange27]

Addison Nichols maybe

 

[VolBricks]

Addison Nichols maybe

yes, Addison is a true center and I bet he is the guy

Edit: I expect the OL to take a step backward next year just because we have several OL graduating.

 

[37620VOL]

Portal x 5

Not joking we'll need 3-5 OL from the portal

 

[vol94]

Portal x 5

Not joking we'll need 3-5 OL from the portal

Yeah, next yr is concerning with a QB making his first start with a new O-Line. There may be some decent linemen in the portal, but 3-5 will be a challenge. I think Heup offered a couple of juco players, too.

 

[TAF]

We have SEVERAL underclassman lineman...if there is ANY development...we should be OK.

Vysen Lang - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Vysen Lang (54) OL - First name is pronounced VIE-sun CAREER HONORS 2023 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll CAREER Up-and-coming offensive line prospect who focused

utsports.com

Mo Clipper Jr. - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Mo Clipper Jr. (56) OL - CAREER HONORS 2022 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll CAREER Second-year offensive lineman who could work his way into the depth

utsports.com

Connor Meadows - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Connor Meadows (57) Offensive Line - 2022 - FRESHMAN Appeared in one game and earned a redshirt ... Made Tennessee debut against UT Martin (10/22). PERSONAL Full

utsports.com

Ayden Bussell - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Ayden Bussell (64) OL - First name is pronounced A-din CAREER HONORS 2023 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll 2023 - FRESHMAN Earned a redshirt in his first

utsports.com

Masai Reddick - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Masai Reddick (59) OL - CAREER Big, physical offensive lineman who enters his third year with the program in 2024 ... Seen most of his time on field goal and

utsports.com

Gus Hill - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Gus Hill (69) OL - CAREER HONORS 2023 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll 2023 - RS-FRESHMAN Made collegiate debut during Tennessee's Homecoming victory over

utsports.com

Addison Nichols - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Addison Nichols (72) OL - CAREER HONORS 2022 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll CAREER Highly-touted interior offensive lineman in his second year with the

utsports.com

Larry Johnson III - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Larry Johnson III (77) OL - CAREER Towering offensive lineman with impressive size who joined the Vols as a junior college transfer from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community

utsports.com

Shamurad Umarov - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Shamurad Umarov (79) OL - Last name is pronounced oo-MAH-rawf CAREER HONORS 2023 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll 2023 - FRESHMAN Appeared in four contests

utsports.com

 

[wmcovol]

Offer Cooper $250k to come back. That more than NFL practice squad guys.

 

[Volfan1000]

Seeing the difference a quality Center seemingly makes in our offense has me wondering: who might be the starting center next year when Cooper leaves? There is exciting young talent and depth at almost every position, except for along the OL. My understanding is that the two backups to Cooper right now are Ollie Lane and Dayne Davis, all of whom will likely be gone next year.

Anyone have any insights on this?

Perhaps Vison Lang or Addison Nichols are the in house favorites.

 

[Vol737]

Portal x 5

Not joking we'll need 3-5 OL from the portal

Absolutely. Gotta have the depth. Really showing up this season.

 

[Volador]

We have SEVERAL underclassman lineman...if there is ANY development...we should be OK.

Vysen Lang - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Vysen Lang (54) OL - First name is pronounced VIE-sun CAREER HONORS 2023 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll CAREER Up-and-coming offensive line prospect who focused

utsports.com

Mo Clipper Jr. - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Mo Clipper Jr. (56) OL - CAREER HONORS 2022 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll CAREER Second-year offensive lineman who could work his way into the depth

utsports.com

Connor Meadows - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Connor Meadows (57) Offensive Line - 2022 - FRESHMAN Appeared in one game and earned a redshirt ... Made Tennessee debut against UT Martin (10/22). PERSONAL Full

utsports.com

Ayden Bussell - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Ayden Bussell (64) OL - First name is pronounced A-din CAREER HONORS 2023 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll 2023 - FRESHMAN Earned a redshirt in his first

utsports.com

Masai Reddick - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Masai Reddick (59) OL - CAREER Big, physical offensive lineman who enters his third year with the program in 2024 ... Seen most of his time on field goal and

utsports.com

Gus Hill - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Gus Hill (69) OL - CAREER HONORS 2023 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll 2023 - RS-FRESHMAN Made collegiate debut during Tennessee's Homecoming victory over

utsports.com

Addison Nichols - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Addison Nichols (72) OL - CAREER HONORS 2022 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll CAREER Highly-touted interior offensive lineman in his second year with the

utsports.com

Larry Johnson III - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Larry Johnson III (77) OL - CAREER Towering offensive lineman with impressive size who joined the Vols as a junior college transfer from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community

utsports.com

That's over 2,750lbs of beef. Surely someone, anyone can break from the pack. Please????

 

[Vol in Buckeye Land]

We have SEVERAL underclassman lineman...if there is ANY development...we should be OK.

Vysen Lang - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Vysen Lang (54) OL - First name is pronounced VIE-sun CAREER HONORS 2023 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll CAREER Up-and-coming offensive line prospect who focused

utsports.com

Mo Clipper Jr. - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Mo Clipper Jr. (56) OL - CAREER HONORS 2022 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll CAREER Second-year offensive lineman who could work his way into the depth

utsports.com

Connor Meadows - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Connor Meadows (57) Offensive Line - 2022 - FRESHMAN Appeared in one game and earned a redshirt ... Made Tennessee debut against UT Martin (10/22). PERSONAL Full

utsports.com

Ayden Bussell - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Ayden Bussell (64) OL - First name is pronounced A-din CAREER HONORS 2023 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll 2023 - FRESHMAN Earned a redshirt in his first

utsports.com

Masai Reddick - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Masai Reddick (59) OL - CAREER Big, physical offensive lineman who enters his third year with the program in 2024 ... Seen most of his time on field goal and

utsports.com

Gus Hill - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Gus Hill (69) OL - CAREER HONORS 2023 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll 2023 - RS-FRESHMAN Made collegiate debut during Tennessee's Homecoming victory over

utsports.com

Addison Nichols - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Addison Nichols (72) OL - CAREER HONORS 2022 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll CAREER Highly-touted interior offensive lineman in his second year with the

utsports.com

Larry Johnson III - Football - University of Tennessee Athletics

Larry Johnson III (77) OL - CAREER Towering offensive lineman with impressive size who joined the Vols as a junior college transfer from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community

utsports.com

Don’t forget Sham Umarov. I won’t be surprised if he ends up being Campbell’s replacement at left tackle.

 

[stolitonic]

Offer Cooper $250k to come back. That more than NFL practice squad guys.

Quite frankly, I would offer him quite a bit more than that.

Difference with him on the line is night and day.

No O-line and all the other bells and whistles don't matter.

Need Spyre to get us the best line money can buy

 

[rdk4121]

The VQ guys said awhile Vysen Lang was the guy they think has a bright future at center, plus Addison Nichols certainly could be an option. I think we'll obviously go to the portal to get some experienced depth/ starters. Both Mincey and Karic can come back next year, so assuming they come back, we could have Sham, Karic, Lang, Nichols, and Mincey from left to right. That would be very inexperienced though.

 

[CrazyUncleVol]

Karic & Mincey are JR. They will be back. Thought I read where Campbell got another year granted to him. We have scholarship reserve OL. Let's hope they develop & pick up a couple transfers.

 

[VAVol85]

yes, Addison is a true center and I bet he is the guy

Edit: I expect the OL to take a step backward next year just because we have several OL graduating.

I think Addison played tackle in HS though Elarbee seems to have targeted him for center.

 

[NighthawkVol]

yes, Addison is a true center and I bet he is the guy

Edit: I expect the OL to take a step backward next year just because we have several OL graduating.

No, Nichols is a true Guard who they hoped to turn into a Center and it didn’t work, which is why Lane and Davis are the two backups this year, while Nichols is focusing exclusively on Guard, his natural position.

Vysen Lang is the young guy they’re highest on and the one most likely to start at Center next year if Cade leaves. He’s a good young prospect.

 

[NighthawkVol]

I think Addison played tackle in HS though Elarbee seems to have targeted him for center.

That experiment didn’t work and has been abandoned. He’s a Guard.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Don’t forget Sham Umarov. I won’t be surprised if he ends up being Campbell’s replacement at left tackle.

I think Mincey starts at LT next year, but Sham very well may be the RT.

 

[Hurley Mooncalf]

They really need for some of the young guys to take a step up. The O line is really a developmental position so hopefully that actually pans out that some of our underclassmen have gained the strength needed for this league and have leveraged the learning at their positions to be successful.

 

[Checker_the_Shire]

yes, Addison is a true center and I bet he is the guy

Edit: I expect the OL to take a step backward next year just because we have several OL graduating.

If that’s the case, with a true-sophomore leading the pack who has very little in-game experience, we’re screwed. So you better hope you’re wrong or Heupel and company do magic in the portal.

 

[TAF]

Don’t forget Sham Umarov. I won’t be surprised if he ends up being Campbell’s replacement at left tackle.

Thanks! Sorry I missed him from the Roster *ADDED Above

 

[appvol]

From the Monday Night Chat.

 

[Vol in Buckeye Land]

From the Monday Night Chat.

View attachment 584251

Lang at center, Nichols battles (hopefully beats out) Karic for lg, Spragg back at RG, and Mincey and Sham as tackles. Not too shabby. Portal additions could shake things up though.

 

[volmandu]

That experiment didn’t work and has been abandoned. He’s a Guard.

It seems like they have abandoned him all together. He is not even in any rotation, despite big struggles from Left guard until last week. I hope he develops into what he is expected to.