Tennessee, on paper, does not rate as highly as Florida or even South Carolina. But Tennessee has long been a team that is more than the sum of its parts, and this is again the case in 2001. There are mild questions at most positions, but those questions are largely answered by a talent base as rich as it is deep.

Tennessee got away from the spread offenses of the David Cutcliffe-Peyton Manning era, and since doing that has been a more formidable offensive foe. Head coach Phil Fulmer would like to ram the ball down the throat of the opponent, but questions at running back and in the interior offensive line could force the Vols into the air more often.

QUARTERBACKS

The unpredictable, yet still dreaded "Sophomore Slump" is the only thing holding Vol fans back from anointing Casey Clausen the next Manning. Clausen did better than anyone could ever have expected in 2000, hitting 121 of 194 passes (62.4 percent completion rate) for 1,473 yards and 15 touchdowns against only 6 interceptions. Spring observers, however, gave Clausen a mixed grade at times, so the real proof will come once the season actually kicks off. But there is no doubting Clausen’s cool and his basic skills. Joey Mathews is the primary backup; he has starting experience and can be effective.

RUNNING BACKS

This is undoubtedly the primary concern of the offensive coaches, who can finally exhale now that Jabari Davis is on his way to Knoxville. Travis Stephens won the job coming out of the spring, but Stephens’ 5’9", 190-pound frame drew concern over his durability. With Davis around, those concerns can be allayed as the coaches have a legitimate substitute. If fellow signee Derrick Tinsley is healthy, the Vols will have plenty of depth. Corey Larkins was listed as second team coming out of the spring, but he is a good bit smaller than Stephens and is seen as a third-down back, at best. Fullback Will Bartholomew is steady enough, but is slow. Troy Fleming has more speed than the average fullback, but is still growing into the position after having played tailback in high school.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Without a doubt the most underrated part of the team. Donte Stallworth is probably headed for an NFL career, while steady Eric Parker gets the call at the other receiver slot. Leonard Scott could outrun a pack of Corvettes but needs to work on his hands and route discipline. Bobby Graham and walk-on Kelley Washington, who comes to Tennessee via the Florida Marlins, provide depth. Tennessee also recruited well at this position, so the school’s status as Receiver U. will likely continue. Sophomore Jason Whitten and senior John Finlayson will compete for the tight end position, but neither are true weapons.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Although four starters return, questions abound, mostly concerning health and the effectiveness of the interior line group. Michael Munoz, who was headed for certain greatness, may now be headed out of football following injury. His departure leaves the line a bit thin. Anthony Herrera will start at left tackle, and he has the potential to be a great one. Reggie Coleman starts at right tackle, and he too is a solid player. The problems start in the middle, where Fred Weary must prove he is recovered from an ankle injury. Weary gets the call at left guard opposite Will Ofenheusle, who needs to take his game up a notch. Scott Wells is a serviceable center. The backups – tackles Sean Young and Victor McClure, center Jason Respert and guards Chavis Smith and Terriea Smalls – are good players all but are largely untested.

As much as a ball-control offense is a credit to Tennessee’s recent success, so is a defense that has been tenacious and unrelenting. Tennessee returns an awesome front four in 2001, but again, nagging questions remain concerning both the linebacker corps and secondary.

DEFENSIVE LINE

There probably isn’t a better group than this currently playing college football. John Henderson is the anchor of the group, and would be in an NFL training camp if not for some questionable advice he received. Regardless, he’s back, along with fellow tackles Albert Haynesworth, Rashad Moore and Edward Kendrick, each of whom could start and star next to big #98. Will Overstreet is a very good defensive end who could be an excellent one if his back holds up. The other end, Bernard Jackson, gets lost among the other stars on this team but is supremely effective in his role. Omari Hand and Constantin Ritzmann provide depth that is more than adequate. Tennessee was first in the conference and third in the country in stopping the run in 2000, and second in the SEC in total defense. Those are numbers that are likely to only get better.

LINEBACKERS

Middle linebacker Dominique Stevenson will make a lot of preseason all-star lists, but the coaches are hoping he doesn’t have to do everything by himself. Two newbies -- junior Eddie Moore and sophomore Kevin Burnett – finished the spring as the starters at outside linebacker. Both are nearly complete unknowns, although Moore looks like a smaller version of Eric Westmoreland. He is also a very smart player. The backups are a bunch of young pups highlighted by Robert Peace, who will spell Stevenson in the middle.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

This is a hard group to figure; all four starters return, as well as talented reserves Steven Marsh and Tad Golden. But this group was 10^th in the conference in pass defense in 2000, and that was while playing behind a mammoth front seven. Teddy Gaines is probably the best of the bunch, the much-hyped Andre Lott notwithstanding. Lott is far better at safety than cornerback, but he begins the season at corner, regardless. Willie Miles, who started in the position that Lott is currently in, is recovering from a wrist injury. Once he comes back, things could get crowded. The current safeties are a real concern; Rashad Baker probably isn’t the answer at free safety, while Marsh needs to play more athletically at the strong safety position, especially if Lott is set on staying at corner.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Placekicker Alex Walls was perfect on extra points and missed only 2 of 20 field goals he attempted. Dustin Colquitt will compete with Justin Reed for the punting job, but both are freshmen. The return game is in excellent shape with both Leonard Scott and Eric Parker returning.

There are enough holes here to trip up Tennessee several times during the 2001 season, but that always seems to be the case. And, equally as predictable, the Vols somehow put together nine wins and stay in the SEC East chase to the bitter end. Last year’s 8-4 campaign was a disappointment, but it is unlikely the Vols will hit those depths again even with a schedule that includes Syracuse, Notre Dame and the usual SEC suspects. 

Quite simply, the holes are in places that can be masked, and if Tennessee gets its running back situation squared away, it should be in position to challenge for the SEC crown. With its ascension towards the top of the SEC, however, Tennessee finds itself more and more a marked team. How they deal with this change in opponents’ attitudes will determine whether they can take the final step from the level of strong divisional team to the level of perennial SEC championship contender.