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Tennessee’s offseason started only five days ago, but the expectations in Knoxville for the Volunteers’ 2016 season are already soaring. An SEC East championship should be in reach, especially considering how dominant Tennessee looked in its 45-6 win over Northwestern in the Outback Bowl.
But even for a team that could return as many as 17 starters from this season — Tennessee’s first nine-win season since 2007 — there are still some questions that are facing the Vols this offseason.
1. Can QB Joshua Dobbs continue to improve his passing game?
It’s amazing how much Dobbs has improved during his career at Tennessee. When Dobbs arrived in Knoxville in 2013, Butch Jones’ original plan was to redshirt him. Instead, he was thrown into the fire during Tennessee’s seventh game of the season, taking his first collegiate snap in the third quarter down 35-0 against Alabama. His athleticism stood out immediately. Then he improved as a sophomore, making fantastic plays with both his arm and his legs. And this season — Dobbs’ first full season as Tennessee’s starting quarterback — was his best yet, throwing for 2,291 yards, rushing for 671 yards and scoring 26 total touchdowns.
Dobbs needs to work on his throwing mechanics and his accuracy. He only completed 59.6 percent of his passes — a low percentage considering many of Tennessee’s throws are swing passes and screens. If he can continue to develop as a passer, Tennessee will have one of the most lethal offenses in the nation next season.
2. Who will leave early for the NFL draft?
If LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin and CB Cameron Sutton stay, Tennessee will have two of the SEC’s best defensive players next year. That’s a big if, though.
Reeves-Maybin had an excellent season in 2015, leading the team in tackles (105) and tackles for loss (14). He was also second on the team with six sacks. If he decides to enter the 2016 NFL Draft, he probably would be a late- first or early, second-round pick.
Sutton probably would be a late, first-round pick if he enters the draft. He is excellent in press-man coverage and has exceptional speed.
Running back Alvin Kamara also submitted paperwork to the NFL Draft advisory for feedback, but he is much less likely to make the jump.
3. Who will replace senior LT Kyler Kerbyson?
Even if Reeves-Maybin and Sutton decide to declare early, Kerbyson might be the biggest loss for Tennessee. Over the past two seasons, Kerbyson has started 23 games at left tackle. He was a constant during a season in which Tennessee was plagued with injuries on its offensive line. He also served as leader of that group after fellow senior Marcus Jackson suffered an injury in August.
Tennessee has recruited some depth at left tackle to replace Kerbyson. Chance Hall and Dontavius Blair will likely compete for the job in the spring.
4. Can Tennessee’s wide receivers continue to improve?
Dobbs’ accuracy issues were not the only reason Tennessee’s passing attack struggled in 2015. The Vols’ wide receivers struggled as well. The only returning receiver with a 100-yard game this season was Josh Malone.
Injuries wreaked havoc on Tennessee’s wideouts this season, which is part of the reason the development of this group stagnated. But if Tennessee expects to win the SEC East in 2016, they need to improve significantly.
5. How will Tennessee deal with the soaring expectations?
Everyone expects Tennessee to contend for the SEC East title next season and the Vols probably will be the division favorites. For the first time in several seasons, Tennessee will have a target on its back. How will Tennessee respond to the hype? In 2015, the Vols had letdowns against Oklahoma and Florida, and their mental toughness was questioned. Tennessee will need to maintain its focus and edge throughout the offseason.
Chase Erickson is a contributing writer for SDS. He covers Tennessee. Follow him on Twitter @ChaseDownField.
