KNOXVILLE—The Vols bring an experienced offensive line into the season, but 2014 is lurking around the corner and Tennessee will lose seniors Ja’Wuan James, Zach Fulton, James Stone, and Alex Bullard. If junior left tackle Tiny Richardson leaves early (he is projected by many to be a 1st round draft pick), the Vols will be forced to replace their entire starting offensive line heading into Butch Jones’ second season at the helm.

Juniors Marcus Jackson and Marquis Pair should return to anchor the line in 2014, and sophomores Alan Posey, Mack Crowder, and Kyler Kerbyson will be expected to challenge for starting jobs. Tennessee has three incoming freshmen offensive linemen this year, Dylan Wiesman, Brett Kendrick, and Austin Sanders. While UT’s freshmen linemen may contribute in a reserve role this season, they’ll need to grow into consistent contributors by 2014. With just eight scholarship linemen expected to be on the team headed into National Signing Day next year, the Vols unquestionably need to bring in at least six offensive linemen in the 2014 class.

Jones has commitments from mammoth 3-star offensive lineman Orlando Brown Jr. and versatile lineman Coleman Thomas. At 6-8, 345 pounds, Brown needs to lose weight and work on his speed to make an impact early. Rated as a 3-star center by 247Sports, the 6-6, 300 pound Thomas could play a variety of positions on the offensive line; his versatility alone may warrant him early playing time.

Since the line is such a position of great need, we took a look at the vast majority of offensive line prospects on Tennessee’s radar. We broke them down into three different categories: uncommitted, committed, and awaiting offer.

Uncommitted

Damian Prince—6-6, 300 pound offensive tackle, District Heights, Maryland, 5-star. The Vols are in his top 10 and he’s planning a visit to Rocky Top this summer. Favorites: Florida State, Alabama, Ohio State, Maryland, and Tennessee.

Chad Mavety—6-7, 320 pound tackle, Garden City, New York, 4-star. Favorites: Ohio State, Alabama, and Florida State.

Roderick Johnson—6-7, 330 pound tackle, Florissant, Missouri, 4-star. Favorites: Oklahoma, Alabama, and Florida State.

Alex Booker—6-6, 295 tackle, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, 4-star. Favorites: Alabama, Florida State, Penn State, Pittsburg, and Michigan State.

Kendall Baker—6-6, 275 pound tackle, Atlanta, Georgia, 4-star. Favorites: Auburn and Georgia.

Brock Ruble—6-8, 325 pound tackle, Hyattsville, Maryland, 3-star. Favorites: Ohio State and Maryland.

Dontavius Blair—6-8, 295 pound tackle, Anniston, Alabama, 4-star. Favorites: Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida State, and Georgia.

Avery Gennesy—6-5, 318 tackle, Southhaven, Mississippi, 4-star JUCO prospect. He has over a dozen majors offers and has yet to name a favorite. The Vols need to get him on campus ASAP.

Braden Smith—6-6, 290 pound guard, Olathe, Kansas, 4-star. Favorites: Notre Dame, TCU, Texas A&M.

Jamarco Jones—6-5, 290 pound tackle, Chicago, Illinois, 4-star. Favorites: Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State.

Isaiah Wynn—6-2, 272 pound guard, Saint Petersburg, Florida, 4-star. Favorites: Georgia, Florida, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Ole Miss, and Auburn.

Nolan Kelleher—6-6, 305 pound guard, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, 3-star. He visited the Vols June 1st and his recruitment it wide open.

David Hedelin—6-5, 285 pound tackle, San Francisco, California, 3-star. Favorites: Arkansas and Oregon State.

Ray Raulerson—6-4, 275 pound tackle, Tampa, Florida, 3-star. Favorites: Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisville, Oklahoma State, and Vanderbilt.

Dyshon Sims—6-4, 278 pound tackle, Valdosta, Georgia, 3-star. Favorites: Georgia and Alabama.

Committed Elsewhere

Corey Martinez—6-4, 297 pound guard/center, Tampa, Florida, 4-star. Committed: Florida State.

Reilly Gibbons—6-6, 278 pound tackle, Saint Petersburg, Florida, 4-star. Committed: Miami.

Travaris Dorsey—6-2, 315 pound guard, Jacksonville, Florida, 3-star. Committed: Florida.

Taven Bryan—6-5, 250 pound offensive tackle, Casper, Wyoming, 3-star. Committed: Florida.

Mason Cole—6-4, 275 pound tackle/guard, Tarpon Springs, Florida, 4-star. Committed: Michigan.

Steven Moss—6-5, 275 pound guard, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 4-star. Committed: Virginia.

Sam Mustipher—6-3, 285 pound guard, Olney, Maryland, 4-star. Committed: Notre Dame.

Jermaine Eluemunor—6-6, 300 pound tackle, Scranton, Pennsylvania, 4-star. Committed: UCLA.

Juwann Bushell-Beatty—6-7, 300 pound tackle, Paramus, New Jersey, 4-star. Committed: Michigan.

Jaden Gault—6-7, 285 pound tackle, Madison, Wisconsin, 4-star. Committed: Wisconsin.

Andy Bauer—6-6, 305 pound tackle, Saint Louis, Missouri, 4-star. Committed: Ole Miss.

Alex Bars—6-6, 287 pound tackle, Nashville, Tennessee, 4-star. Committed: Notre Dame.

Garrett Brumfield—6-4, 272 pound guard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 4-star. Committed: LSU.

Quenton Nelson—6-5, 295 pound tackle, Red Bank, New Jersey, 4-star. Committed: Notre Dame.

Awaiting Offer

Christian Taylor—6-6, 300 pound tackle, Lexington, South Carolina, 3-star. His lone offer is from NC State. He attended the Orange and White Game and is awaiting an offer from the Vols.

Matthew Pyke—6-3, 297 pound center/guard, Clinton, TN, 3-star. He doesn’t have any offers but has visited Tennessee, Mississippi State, Memphis, and Middle Tennessee. If the Vols offer, he’s a likely commit.