The Fate of the Tennessee Volunteers Rests With the Offensive Line

The three month college football season is only four months away, but it may be one of the most important in the history of Tennessee football.

The program is becoming the program of yesterday; no conference titles in a generation, no division titles in a dozen seasons, and two straight losing seasons.

More than half of the programs in major college football (major five conferences) have won a conference championship since Tennessee has.

Let that sink in.

The Vols won’t end the first two streaks this season, but it seems like a good bet they can have a winning season and earn a minor bowl bid this season. Mediocre by some programs’ standards, a step of progress for Tennessee.

But the key factor to reach that goal is the offensive line. As it stands right now, it may be the biggest question mark the team has, with both the potential for greatness and ineptitude.

Put it this way, ourlads.com lists the Tennessee depth chart as not having a starting right tackle after the transfer of Drew Richmond to Southern California.

Still, ourlads.com is not listing three players who could be major factors in Tennessee having a great offensive line, Trey Smith, Darnell Wright, and Brandon Kennedy.

Smith is the player the line figures to make or break on. Viewed by many as the top offensive line prospect in the country when he came to…