It’s not rocket science: if your team has one of its conference’s best quarterbacks, regardless of which conference said school plays in, then that club is going to be a contender. So that bodes very well for Tennessee in 2015.

ESPN’s Football Power Index, which is usually a pretty good indicator of a team’s strength, projects Tennessee to win 8.6 games in 2015 and gives it a 13.4 percent chance to win the SEC title. The Vols entered fall camp with 17 starters set to return, tied for the most in the conference. The East Division isn’t exactly loaded this season and is there to be had.

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS: 2015 STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

PROJECTED OFFENSIVE STARTERS

Strength: QB Joshua Dobbs

You would have to say the best returning quarterback in the conference is Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott, a senior who is a top Heisman Trophy candidate. But it’s fair to argue that Dobbs is No. 2. Just look at the quarterback attrition among SEC contenders. Alabama will have a new starter. So will Auburn, Ole Miss and Georgia. LSU has major questions there. So do Florida and South Carolina. The only legitimate returning QB in the SEC East is Missouri’s Maty Mauk.

Dobbs only took over midway through the season and in six games had 1,675 total yards of offense (279 per game) and was responsible for 17 touchdowns (nine passing and eight rushing). In a memorable win over South Carolina, he threw for 301 yards and two scores and rushed for 166 yards (UT quarterback record) and three more TDs.

Weakness: Offensive line

Four of last year’s five starters were due back so that’s normally a positive. But those four were part of a group that group generated fewer yards per carry in SEC play than anyone other than Vanderbilt and gave up the sixth-most sacks in the FBS. The 306 yards lost to sacks were more than all but two FBS teams.

This line became more of a question this week with the loss fifth-year senior Marcus Jackson, who could miss the season with an arm injury. Brett Kendrick, who was penciled in at right tackle, has been playing in Jackson’s vacated left guard spot. Because Jackson elected to take a redshirt in 2013, his college career is likely over.

PROJECTED DEFENSIVE STARTERS

Strength: Defensive line

Tennessee has had just five first-team All-SEC defensive linemen since John Henderson and Albert Haynesworth were first-round picks in 2002. But expect Derek Barnett to make it six. I’m sure Vols fans remember the TaxSlayer Bowl win over Iowa as Barnett sometimes dominated Iowa All-American tackle Brandon Scherff, the Outland Trophy winner who was the No. 5 overall pick in this year’s draft.

Barnett became the first true freshman defensive lineman in Tennessee history to start a season opener (vs. Utah State). He finished with 20.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, both UT freshman records. He was named a preseason second-team All-SEC selection. I’m counting Curt Maggitt among the linemen; he’s really a hybrid end/linebacker. Maggitt had a team-best 11.0 sacks with 15.0 tackles for loss. He was named preseason first-team All-SEC at linebacker.

Danny O’Brien, Corey Vereen and LaTroy Lewis all return as well. It should be one of the SEC’s best units.

Weakness: Middle linebacker

The Vols lost the heart and soul of their 2014 defense in middle linebacker A.J. Johnson, who is second in career total tackles at UT with 425. Last year he led the team with 101 tackles and added 9.0 for loss despite his season ending early due to a rape investigation. Recently defensive coordinator John Jancek called the competition to replace Johnson ”wide open.”

Jakob Johnson started the final two regular-season games at middle linebacker and totaled 14 tackles but he’s been getting snaps at tight end in fall camp. Kenny Bynum is the leader in the clubhouse to start there after starting in the TaxSlayer Bowl. Bynum has slimmed down to around 230 pounds to add quickness.

SCHEDULE

Strength: Oklahoma game; back end

Why am I listing the potential home loss to the Sooners on Sept. 12 as a strength? Because it will certainly impress pollsters and the College Football Playoff committee if Tennessee were to win such a high-profile non-conference game. Few SEC teams are playing such a respected opponent. Also a benefit in schedule is that the final five games after a trip to Alabama are winnable. UT should be a favorite in all but perhaps at Missouri on Nov. 21.

Weakness: Brutal four-game stretch

The Vols chances to get to Atlanta will be decided on Sept. 26 at Florida, which has dominated the series of late, Oct. 3 vs. Arkansas, Oct. 10 vs. Georgia and Oct. 24 at Alabama. If somehow UT gets through that gauntlet at 3-1, then the SEC East probably will be won.