KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Colton Jumper, a former all-state player at Baylor School in Chattanooga, is listed as the backup to All-SEC middle linebacker A.J. Johnson on Tennessee’s depth chart for the season-opening game against Utah State on Sunday night.
The 6-foot-2-inch, 227-pound Jumper, who spent a post-graduate year at The Hun School in Princeton, N.J., finished his Baylor career with 251 tackles, 39 tackles for loss, 22 sacks, two interceptions and one blocked field goal.
Jumper is one of 15 freshmen on the Vols’ two-deep depth chart, including potentially five starters.
On offense, Ethan Wolf of Minster, Ohio, will start at tight end; Jashon Robertson of Nashville opens at right guard and Aaron Medley of Lewisburg, or sophomore George Bullock of Knoxville will handle the punting duties.
Defensively, Derek Barnett of Nasvhille gets the start at end and Knoxville sophomore Devrin Young and rookie Evan Berry of Fairburn, Ga., will handle kickoff returns.
Redshirt freshman Austin Sanders, the Class AA Mr. Football Lineman of the Year his senior year at Bradley Central and the Vols’ first commitment in the 2013 recruiting class, is listed as the No. 2 left offensive tackle behind junior Marcus Jackson.
Offense
(Starters in bold print)
Tight End – Ethan Wolf (Fr., 6-4, 240), Alex Ellis (Jr., 6-4, 238), or Daniel Helm ( Fr.,6-4, 240)
Left Tackle – Jacob Gilliam (Sr., 6-4, 297), Dontavius Blair (Jr., 6-8, 300)
Left Guard – Marcus Jackson (Jr., 6-2, 306), Austin Sanders (R-Fr., 6-5, 311)
Center – Mack Crowder (Jr., 6-2, 295), Dylan Wiesman (So., 6-3, 303)
Right Guard – Jashon Robertson (Fr., 6-3, 304), Brett Kendrick (R-Fr., 6-6, 316)
Right Tackle – Kyler Kerbyson (Jr., 6-4, 312), Coleman Thomas (Fr., 6-6, 328)
Wide Receiver – Alton Howard (Jr., 5-8, 187), Josh Malone (Fr., 6-3, 204)
Wide Receiver – Von Pearson (So., 6-3, 183), Josh Smith (So., 6-1, 200)
Quarterback – Justin Worley (Sr., 6-4, 220), Nathan Peterman (So., 6-2, 220) or Joshua Dobbs (So., 6-3-216)
Running Back – Marlin Lane (Sr., 5-11, 209), Jalen Hurd (Fr., 6-3, 227)
Defense
Left End – Corey Vereen (So., 6-2, 253), LaTroy Lewis (So., 6-4, 257)
Tackle – Jordan Williams (Sr., 6-5, 284), Dimarya Mixon (Fr., 6-3, 282)
Nose Tackle – Danny O’Brien (So., 6-2, 286), Owen Williams (Jr., 6-2, 288)
Right End – Derek Barnett (Fr., 6-3, 267), Dewayne Hendrix (Fr., 6-4, 275)
Weakside Linebacker – Jalen Reeves-Maybin (So., 6-1, 230), Dillon Bates (Fr., 6-3, 222)
Middle Linebacker – A.J. Johnson (Sr., 6-2, 245), Colton Jumper (Fr., 6-2, 227)
Strongside Linebacker – Curt Maggitt (Jr., 6-3, 251), Chris Weatherd (Jr., 6-2, 225)
Cornerback – Cameron Sutton (So., 6-1, 190), Emmanuel Moseley (Fr., 5-11, 178)
Strong Safety – Devaun Swafford (So., 5-11, 184) Todd Kelly Jr. (Fr., 6-0, 203)
Free Safety – Brian Randolph (Jr., 6-0, 209), LaDarrell McNeil (Jr., 6-1, 215)
Cornerback – Justin Coleman (Sr., 5-11, 188), Michael Williams (So., 5-11, 177)
Specialists
Punter – Matt Darr (Sr., 6-2, 220) or Aaron Medley (Fr., 6-2, 181)
Place-kicker – George Bullock (So., 6-0, 209) or Aaron Medley (Fr., 6-2, 181)
Long Snapper – Matt Giampapa (Jr., 6-0, 211), Ethan Wolf (Fr., 6-5, 240)
Holder – Patrick Ashford (Jr., 6-0, 213), Matt Darr (Sr., 6-1, 220)
Punt Returns – Cameron Sutton (So., 6-1, 190), Devrin Young (Sr., 5-8, 173)
Kickoff Returns – Devrin Young (Sr., 5-8, 173), Evan Berry (Fr., 5-11, 199)
(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @larryfleming44)