Tennessee Football: 5 spring 2019 breakout candidates

Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee football (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee football (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
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Tennessee football is looking for a rebound season after going just 5-7 a year ago. Can Jeremy Pruitt find the right breakout players this spring?

When National Signing Day concluded, fans from around the country were surprised to see one team in particular ranked in the top 15. Tennessee finished with the No. 12 class in the country which was good for seventh in the SEC and an average star rating of four.

Jeremy Pruitt helped turn the program around in just a season after Butch Jones squandered plenty of talent in the year’s leading up to his firing.

Sure, the Volunteers finished just 5-7, but progress was made off the field as well with Pruitt recruiting his players and bringing a tough attitude to Knoxville that had been missing under Jones. This second spring under Pruitt is extremely important.

Which Volunteers could break out this spring and earn some 2019 playing time?

The second-best JUCO tight end in the 2018 class had a decent first season in Knoxville, catching 17 passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns, but he’s capable of much more.

Dominick Wood-Anderson could have more opportunities this season with an improving quarterback under center and a year of experience at the SEC level under his belt. There’s a reason schools like Alabama and Texas wanted this kid and we may see him become a household name after a strong spring.

The Volunteers could use more pass-catchers stepping up and Wood-Anderson has the perfect 6-foot-5, 245-pound frame at tight end and he’s going to be a tough cover for linebackers.

Mismatches galore for opposing defenses in 2019, starting this spring with Tennessee’s linebackers trying to cover Wood-Anderson.