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Tennessee Vols: 5 Bold Predictions For 2017 Season

By Zach Ragan

Oct 8, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones during the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. The Aggies defeat the Volunteers 45-38 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones during the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. The Aggies defeat the Volunteers 45-38 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 30, 2016; Nashville , TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back John Kelly (4) rushes for touchdown against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2016; Nashville , TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back John Kelly (4) rushes for touchdown against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

John Kelly Will Rush For 1,000 Yards

With Alvin Kamara and Jalen Hurd no longer in the program, it will be up to John Kelly to lead the ground attack for the Vols.

Kelly’s primary backup will likely be true freshman Ty Chandler, who will arrive on campus this summer.

So it’s not probable that Kelly will share a large amount of carries with anyone else on the team.

Last season, Hurd and Kamara combined to carry the ball 225 times, with Kelly carrying the ball 98 times.

I think it’s reasonable to expect Kelly to receive around 200 carries in 2017. His career rushing average is 5.8 yards per carry (he averaged 6.4 yards per carry in 2016).

Even if we lower his average a half yard next season from his career average, that would still come out to 1,060 yards over the entire season.

I think that’s entirely doable for Kelly in 2017, who will be in a unique situation where he’s a workhorse running back for the Volunteers.

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