Key Tennessee Vols position group ranked as a top 10 unit entering the 2024 season

One of the Tennessee Vols' most important position groups was ranked by On3 this past week as one of the 10 best in college football. 

On3's Jesse Simonton ranked Tennessee's offensive line as the ninth best in college football. 

From On3: Cooper Mays, Javontez Spraggins and John Campbell Jr. (who is flipping from left to right tackle) have a combined 95 career starts and are all back. Tennessee then added former 5-star Lance Heard from LSU, who is set to protect Nico Iamaleava’s blindside in 2024. 

The Vols also inked a very good recruiting class of offensive linemen, and Dayne Davis and Jackson Lampley return as sixth-year seniors who provide valuable depth. This won’t be a unit that wins the Joe Moore Award, but it’s capable of pushing around a fair number of DLs in the SEC.

Tennessee's starting five should be among the talented in the nation. Cooper Mays is one of the most experienced centers in the country. Mays will be entering his fourth season in Josh Heupel's offense, providing valuable experience and leadership up front for the Vols. 

Lance Heard and John Campbell give the Vols a pair of high-caliber offensive tackles. And right guard Javontez Spraggins might be the most underrated offensive lineman in the SEC. 

The big question mark for the Vols is at left guard. That's a position that will be up grabs later this summer as Jackson Lampley, Vysen Lang, Andrej Karic, and others battle it out. 

While Tennessee's starting five along the offensive line should be among the best in the nation, there's some concern when it comes to depth -- though that's not something that's unique to the Vols. The NCAA transfer portal has made it incredibly difficult to build solid offensive line depth for programs across the nation. 

If everyone stays healthy, Tennessee's offensive line will be a major strength. But if that unit suffers some injuries, some less heralded players will be forced to step up in a big way.