Tennessee football position battles in spring practice including Joe Milton vs Nico Iamaleava

Tennessee football opens spring practice on Monday with a talented roster but some big holes on the depth chart.

The Vols signed a top 10 recruiting class, and some of those players are already enrolled. And UT added eight Division I transfers.

It’s created an intriguing mixture of returning players and newcomers. With that landscape, here are five positional battles to watch in spring practice.

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Dont’e Thornton vs. Ramel Keyton

Wide receiver Dont'e Thornton was a big-play threat at Oregon with a 21.5 yards-per-catch average. He was snagged out of the transfer portal to help replenish college football’s best wide receiving corps after Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman headed to the NFL.

Ramel Keyton filled in for an injured Tillman last season, but don’t assume he’s a backup. Keyton had 31 receptions for 566 yards and five TDs. Compare that to Thornton’s 2022 stat line at Oregon: 17 receptions, 366 yards, one TD.

Thornton could compete with Squirrel White at slot receiver or Keyton on the outside. Bru McCoy is locked in at the other outside receiver, but he will be out or limited in spring practice due to an offseason surgery. So that will give more reps to Thornton on the outside.

Joe Milton vs. Nico Iamaleava

Joe Milton is the front-runner at quarterback after playing well as Hendon Hooker’s backup last season (10 TD passes, no interceptions) and earning Orange Bowl MVP honors after Hooker's ACL tear. But Nico Iamaleava, a 5-star freshman, is ultra-talented.

If Milton struggles and Iamaleava surges, it could turn into a tight competition. But both must occur for Milton to lose the job.

John Campbell vs. Jeremiah Crawford

John Campbell was Miami’s starting left tackle last season. Gerald Mincey and Jeremiah Crawford split time at left tackle for UT last season.

At least one of those three should move to right tackle to replace Darnell Wright, a projected early-round NFL Draft pick.

Mincey is the likeliest to stay at left tackle. That leaves Campbell and Crawford to compete on the right side. But expect every option to be explored in spring.

Joshua Josephs vs. James Pearce

UT needs a dynamic edge rusher to replace Byron Young, a projected early-round draft pick. Backup Roman Harrison returns, but at least one young player must step into a large role.

Joshua Josephs and James Pearce were 4-star signees in 2022.

Josephs played well and frequently as a freshman. He looked the part of an up-and-coming pass rusher.

Pearce didn’t play as much. He looked like a developmental player who could either break out or fade in his second season.

Gabe Jeudy-Lally vs. several cornerbacks

There are almost too many experienced cornerbacks returning to name, but let’s try.

Warren Burrell, Kamal Hadden, Christian Charles, Doneiko Slaughter, Brandon Turnage and De’Shawn Rucker combined to play more than 2,000 snaps on defense last season. Burrell and Rucker will be limited in spring practice while recovering from 2022 injuries.

Playmaking punt returner Dee Williams could get into the mix at cornerback. Christian Harrison, son of former NFL great Rodney Harrison, is back after a solid freshman season. And some touted 2023 signees enrolled early to participate in spring practice.

But the newest and most intriguing ingredient is Gabe Jeudy-Lally, who started at BYU and Vanderbilt before transferring to UT. No one is guaranteed playing time as UT tries to fix a pass defense that ranked No. 127 among 131 FBS teams.

Reach Adam Sparks at adam.sparks@knoxnews.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football: 5 position battles to watch in spring practice