The Tennessee Volunteers are just weeks away from opening their spring practice season, but they’ll have to proceed through spring practice without a handful of players expected to make major contributions this fall.

According to an Associated Press report, Tennessee will be without defensive ends Derek Barnett and Kyle Phillips, defensive tackle Danny O’Brien, linebacker Darrin Kirkland, wideout Jason Croom and tight end Alex Ellis this spring due to a variety of injuries.

A handful of other players will be limited this spring to varying degrees, but the absence of the six aforementioned players will force the focus of Butch Jones and his coaching staff onto the team’s lesser-known role players.

The spring is the perfect time to build depth and develop a team’s reserves, and that’s exactly what Jones is going to be able to do this spring in Knoxville. With that in mind, here’s our list of the five players Tennessee should focus on developing the most in the coming weeks:

1. DT Shy Tuttle: One of eight four-star early enrollees from Tennessee’s 2015 recruiting class, Tuttle has as much to gain as anyone during the spring practice season. The 6-foot-3, 320-pound behemoth will get his first taste of college football, and he’ll do so while Barnett, Phillips and, O’Brien watch from the sideline with injuries. The Vols are deep along the defensive line, but injuries this spring will give Tuttle a greater number of reps with the first team, which will only benefit him and the team when the fall arrives and fellow freshmen like Phillips and Kahlil McKenzie are behind on the learning curve. If the Vols really focus on working with Tuttle, he could very well be game-ready by Week 1.

2. WR Josh Malone: As it stands, Malone might be Tennessee’s fourth- or fifth-best receiver, perhaps even its sixth-best wideout depending on how quickly four-star 2015 signee Preston Williams can get up to speed this summer. Malone was fifth on the team in receiving last season, and all four players in front of him are back for the 2015 season. However, with Williams still in high school for the spring and Croom sidelined with an injury, the coming weeks of practice could prove invaluable to Malone as he aims to cement a greater role in the offense this year. New offensive coordinator Mike DeBord and his staff can give Malone added attention, and if he responds well he could develop into a playmaker as a sophomore.

3. TE Ethan Wolf: Wolf began his Tennessee career like gangbusters last fall, recording 13 catches in his first three collegiate games. However, he only caught 10 passes in the final nine games of his freshman season, fading out of the offense while battling nagging injuries throughout the year. Wolf is healthy again this spring, and he’s bigger and stronger as well. He said when he first arrived at UT he’d be fine with just blocking, but the added dimension he brings to the offense as a pass-catcher is too valuable to overlook. If DeBord and his staff really sink their teeth into developing Wolf’s role in the offense, the entire unit might benefit.

4. OT Jack Jones: Another of the four-star early enrollees, Jones has the potential to step in right away and play crucial snaps for Tennessee in the fall if he performs well this spring. At 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds as of National Signing Day, the offensive tackle already has the size to compete in the SEC, and he appears to have the raw talent as well considering he was among the 10 best tackles in the class. Once touted junior college transfer Dontavius Blair was unable to assume a starting role along a suspect offensive line last season, so if Jones puts in the work and picks up the offense quickly, there could be a spot for him right away. And if not, he’ll provide much-needed depth along the line, keeping the unit afloat should the injury bug make its presence felt during the season.

5. DL LaTroy Lewis: Lewis managed to make the most of limited snaps last season, recording five of his eight tackles on the year behind the line of scrimmage. He’ll continue to battle for time at a crowded position on the depth chart, but like Tuttle he’ll have the benefit of additional snaps this spring while players like Barnett and Phillips are out. Lewis brings experience the three four-star freshmen do not have, and he’s a savvy pass rusher when given opportunities. He may not earn a starting job, but could work his way to a bigger role in the Vols’ defensive line rotation this season.