Tennessee Vols: Players That Will Break Out At Each Position For UT In 2017

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Feb 1, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Montgomery Bell Academy football player Ty Chandler hands out cake to his classmates after signing his letter of intent to attend the University of Tennessee at a ceremony during National Signing Day. Mandatory Credit: George Walker IV / The Tennessean via USA TODAY NETWORK /

Running Back — Ty Chandler

Freshman

We already know that John Kelly will be the Volunteers’ go to back in 2017, but he won’t be able to handle 100% of the load.

Carlin Fils-aime, who played in seven games as a true freshman, will get the first crack at being Kelly’s direct backup. But Chandler’s ability to get tough yards, something Butch Jones pointed out when he signed with Tennessee in February, will get him on the field early as a true freshman.

Chandler, unfortunately, doesn’t have the advantage of going through spring practice, so he’ll have some catching up to do when summer rolls around.

However, I think Chandler will prove to be one of the best signings of the 2017 recruiting class. He’s tailor made to be a running back in the SEC.

Vols running back coach Robert Gillespie, for what it’s worth, thinks Chandler will be ready to go as soon as he arrives in Knoxville.

#Vols Robert Gillespie on incoming frosh RB Ty Chandler: "He's a helluva football player. He's going to come in here and be ready to play."
— Jesse Simonton (@JesseReSimonton) April 6, 2017

Tennessee lost two of the better runners in Vol history in Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara, so they’ll absolutely need Chandler to step up as a freshman in 2017.

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