KNOXVILLE—Welcome to our weekly column, “The State of the Vols.” Here we summarize and analyze the previous week’s action while looking forward to the coming week for the Vols. Check back next week for volume 14.

Football: Last week, the Vols picked up several commitments, wrapped up spring practice, hosted 500 former players and dozen’s of the nation’s top prospects, and took the field in front of 61,076 people for the Orange and White Game. To call Butch Jones’ first spring anything other than a tremendous success would be ludicrous. Saturday’s Orange and White Game featured the second largest crowd in school history and the most impressive list of visitors and former players in recent memory. It’s no secret the Vols are coming off the worst three-year stretch in the program’s illustrious history; yet, Saturday’s crowd currently ranks third nationally for spring games. Jones has done an excellent job building enthusiasm with fans, players, and recruits. Look for the program to continue to build momentum through the summer.

Concerning Tennessee’s play on the field, here are a few thoughts as the team heads into summer workouts.

1. Tennessee’s quarterback race will continue through the summer. Junior quarterback Justin Worley worked with the first team for most of the spring and showed a better grasp of the offense than redshirt freshman QB Nathan Peterman. Despite his better handling of the offense, Worley didn’t do enough to wrap up a starting spot. Both quarterbacks struggled with executing basic plays and have a long way to go before they’re trusted with the reigns of the offense.  Jones addressed the QB situation after the Orange and White Game, “It is wide open. Just like every position, it will be open. The growth that a football team can make from May to the end of July can be monumental, if they buy in and work exceptionally hard. Plus, we have our freshmen reporting in June. That is one thing–we were able to attract a top-25 class, we were able to tell them that they could come in and have the opportunity to compete and play.”

The Vols have two 4-star quarterbacks (Joshua Dobbs and Riley Ferguson) stepping on campus in June and they’ll get a chance to show what they can do. Only two quarterbacks can get meaningful reps, so it will be interesting to see who the top two are when fall camp starts in August. For now, it’s anybody’s job.

2. Curt Maggitt’s health is one of the main things to watch this summer. Maggitt tore his ACL late last season and didn’t participate in contact drills this spring. He wasn’t moving very well on his injured leg when practice began, but looked more fluid the last few weeks. The Vols don’t have the luxury of depth at linebacker and need a healthy Maggitt when the season begins in August.

3. The Vol pass rush could be the strength of this year’s defense. Freshman defensive end Corey Vereen tallied four sacks Saturday and had an excellent spring. LaTroy Lewis, Jacques Smith, Corey Miller, and Marlon Walls have all shown the ability to quickly pressure the quarterback at the end position. Last year’s defense finished last in the SEC in sacks. That won’t be the case this season.

4. Tennessee’s wide receivers have a long way to go. The Vol wideouts aren’t anywhere near ready for competition in the SEC. Throughout the spring they struggled with basic routes, dropped numerous passes, and failed to show an ability to consistently make plays. That said, their improvement from practice No. 1 onward was noticeable. Redshirt freshman Jason Croom was the most consistent receiver the last few weeks before injuring his hamstring. Cody Blanc, Devrin Young, Pig Howard, Jacob Carter, Paul Harris, and Vincent Dallas have the ability to contribute, but they’ll have to be more consistent before they’ll make a serious impact. Incoming 4-star receivers Marquez North and Ryan Jenkins will compete for playing time the moment they step on campus.

5. Alden Hill earned his share of carries this season with a brilliant spring. Hill worked primarily on the scout team last year, but earned a handful of first team reps the last few practices. His work ethic and progression the last few weeks turned heads, and his 101 rushing yards in the Orange and White Game showcased his abilities. Hill his a tough, physical runner who can pick help the Vols convert on third and short situations.

The NFL Draft begins Thursday, and we’ll be taking a look back at the careers of Justin Hunter and Tyler Bray this week. If you haven’t read it yet, check out our retrospective on Cordarrelle Patterson.

As we get into summer, we’ll shift our focus to adding to our recruiting coverage and will be bringing you interviews of several recruits, plus features on some of Tennessee’s top targets. The 2014 class ranks 5th nationally.

Basketball: Everyone close to the program is awaiting the decision of Jarnell Stokes. He has until April 28th to decide to return to Tennessee or enter the draft. Saturday, the Vols granted sophomore forward Yemi Makanjoula a transfer release. He played sparingly down the stretch last season as the Vols went to a four guard lineup. His departure leaves the UT with 14 players vying for 13 spots. If Stokes enters the draft Tennessee’s roster issues will be solved; if not, a current player or signee will have to play elsewhere next season.