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No. 7 Tennessee Football's official depth chart for Vanderbilt game

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey11/29/24

GrantRamey

Dylan Sampson, Tennessee Football | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images) Sep 21, 2024; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Dylan Sampson (6) celebrates with Tennessee Volunteers offensive lineman Javontez Spraggins (76) after a touchdown during the first half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

A look at Tennessee Football’s official depth chart for Saturday afternoon’s game at Vanderbilt, scheduled for a Noon Eastern Time start on ABC. Here’s how the Vols will line up on the road against the Commodores:

Quarterback

StarterNico Iamaleava
BackupGaston Moore
BackupJake Merklinger

Nico Iamaleava is 181-for-277 (..653) for 2,255 yards, 15 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has rushed 83 times for 275 net yards and has one rushing touchdown. Iamaleava is averaging 205.0 passing yards per game and has a quarterback rating of 148.71.

Gaston Moore has appeared in six games, completing 16 of 27 passes for 201 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Freshman Jake Merklinger is 6-for-9 for 48 yards and has rushed seven times for 30 yards in two games.

Running Back

StarterDylan Sampson
BackupCam Seldon
-or- DeSean Bishop
-or- Khalifa Keith
-or- Peyton Lewis

Dylan Sampson has rushed 231 times for 1,307 yards and 22 touchdowns. DeSean Bishop has ran 54 times for 372 yards and three touchdowns. Peyton Lewis has 52 carries for 262 yards and a touchdown and Cam Seldon has 23 carries for 118 yards in six games.

Bishop hasn’t played since being injured on his third snap in the 28-18 win over Kentucky, missing the last three-plus games. He has not been on Tennessee’s injury report this week.

Wide Receivers

StarterDont’e Thornton -or- Chris Brazzell II
BackupNathan Leacock
StarterBru McCoy -or- Kaleb Webb
BackupMike Matthews
StarterSquirrel White -or- Chas Nimrod
BackupBraylon Staley

Dont’e Thornton leads Tennessee in receiving yards and touchdowns, catching 22 passes for 529 yards and four touchdowns. Bru McCoy has 35 receptions for 432 yards and two touchdowns and Chris Brazzell II has 23 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns. Squirrel White has 33 catches for 364 yards and two touchdowns.

Tight Ends

StarterEthan Davis
-or- Holden Staes
-or- Miles Kitselman

Miles Kitselman has 19 catches for 263 yards and three receiving touchdowns, along with his 1-yard touchdown run at Georgia. Holden Staes has 15 catches for 131 yards and a touchdown. Ethan Davis has 12 catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns.

Offensive Line

Left TackleLance Heard -or- Larry Johnson III
Left GuardAndrej Karic -or- Jackson Lampley
CenterCooper Mays
BackupWilliam Satterwhite -or- Vysen Lang
Right GuardJavontez Spraggins
BackupShamurad Umarov
Right TackleJohn Campbell -or- Dayne Davis

Tennessee’s regular starters on the offensive line are Cooper Mays at center, Andrej Karic at left guard, Javontez Spraggins at right guard, Lance Heard at left tackle and John Campbell at right tackle. Heard returned at Arkansas after missing two games.

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Dayne Davis started at left tackle in place of Heard at Oklahoma and both Davis and Larry Johnson have played in place of John Campbell at right tackle to times throughout the season.

Defensive Line

StarterBryson Eason
-or- Omarr Norman-Lott
-or- Daevin Hobbs
StarterOmari Thomas
-or- Elijah Simmons
-or- Jaxson Moi

Defensive End

StarterDominic Bailey
-or- Tyre West
-or- Jayson Jenkins
-or- Tyree Weathersby

LEO

StarterJames Pearce Jr.
-or- Joshua Josephs
-or- Caleb Herring
-or- Jordan Ross

Weakside Linebacker

StarterArion Carter -or- Kalib Perry

Middle Linebacker

StarterJeremiah Telander -or- Jalen Smith
BackupEdwin Spillman

Cornerback

StarterJermod McCoy -or- Jordan Matthews
BackupWiliam Wright
StarterRickey Gibson II -or- Jalen McMurray
BackupKaleb Beasley

Safety

StarterWill Brooks -or- Christian Charles
BackupEdrees Farooq
StarterAndre Turrentine -or- Jakobe Thomas
BackupJohn Slaughter

Star

StarterChristian Harrison
-or- Boo Carter

Arion Carter has a team-high 58.0 tackles, with 24 solo and 34 assisted, to go with an interception. He has 6.0 tackles for loss. Will Brooks has 50.0 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and five passes broken up.

James Pearce Jr. has a team-high 11.0 tackles for loss, Joshua Josephs has 8.0 and Carter has 6.5.

Pearce leads the Vols 7.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hurries. Jermod McCoy leads the team with nine passes broken up, has three interceptions and 33.0 tackles.

Special Teams

PlacekickerMax Gilbert
BackupJosh Turbyville
PunterJackson Ross
BackupJosh Turbyville
KickoffJosh Turbyville
BackupMax Gilbert
LongsnapperMatthew Salansky
BackupBennett Brady
HolderJackson Ross
Kick ReturnerCameron Seldon -or- Peyton Lewis -or- DeSean Bishop -or- Mike Matthews
Punt ReturnerSquirrel White -or- Jermod McCoy -or- Boo Carter

Max Gilbert is 17-for-23 on field goals with a long of 51. He missed a 53-yard attempt late against NC State, missed twice against Alabama, finishing 1-for-3, and went 0-for-3 against Kentucky. He bounced back with a 4-for-4 night against Mississippi State and made his only attempt at Georgia. Jackson Ross has punted 45 times for 2,007 yards with three touchbacks, 13 fair catches, 19 downed inside the 20 and nine that went 50 or more yards.

Boo Carter has taken over as Tennessee’s punt returner, fielding 12 punts and returning them for 198 yards, averaging 16.5 yards per return. Squirrel White has returned seven punts for 112 yards, with a long of 31. Jermod McCoy has returned six for 59, with a long of 23.

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