In 2021, Tennessee entered the season with a new coaching staff and a massive amount of defections.

Oh what a difference a year can make.

The Vols bring back 9 starters on offense and 8 on defense. One the youngest teams in the SEC is now filled with experienced, battle-tested players. They have also increased their depth in a lot of spots.

Will this mean more wins in 2022? Here’s how the Vols’ position groups look with the season opener getting ever closer.

QB: A-

There isn’t a quarterback competition at Tennessee. Grad transfer Hendon Hooker took the job in the middle of Week 2 last year and never looked back. Hooker had a tremendous 2021 season, with a 31-to-3 TD-to-INT ratio, plus 2,945 passing yards.

Second on the depth chart is another experienced player in redshirt senior Joe Milton III. There aren’t many teams in the country with a backup in his 5th year with 214 pass attempts and 1,569 yards through the air.

Third on the depth chart is true freshman Tavyen Jackson, who had a terrific spring according to many team observers.

This is a position that head coach Josh Heupel isn’t losing much sleep over.

RB: B

The Vols want to spread the football around on the ground if possible. But junior Jabari Small should get the most opportunities among running backs. Small was 2nd on the team in carries with 141 and tops in rushing yards with 796.

Tennessee was served a setback with a season-ending injury to Len’Neth Whitehead, but sophomore Jaylen Wright and true freshman Justin Williams-Thomas will be available.

WR: B

Tennessee brings back one of the top receivers in the SEC in Cedric Tillman, following a 64-catch, 1,081-yard, 12-TD season. There’s also junior Jalin Hyatt, who has made at least 20 receptions in each of the past 2 seasons.

After that, there’s a whole bunch of unknown. Ramel Keyton, Jimmy Holiday, Jimmy Calloway, Walker Merrill … each will get his chance to stay on the field.

Southern Cal transfer Bru McCoy could make an impact, but he has yet to be cleared to play.

TE: A-

Tennessee has a pretty good 1-2 punch in Jacob Warren and Princeton Fant. They combined to make 34 catches a year ago. They will serve as a safety valve in the Tennessee passing attack.

They play an important role in the running game as well.

OL: B+

You want experience? Look at the Vols’ offensive line. Seniors Jeremiah Crawford and Jerome Carvin should be starters on the left side. Junior Cooper Mays will start at center. Junior Javontez Spraggins and senior Darnell Wright start on the right side.

The issue could come with the backups, who at some point will be pressed into duty. There is not a lot of game experience on the 2nd and 3rd string.

DL: B+

Tennessee’s defense will likely will be on the field a lot in 2022. Improved depth might help lower those minutes a bit.

On the defensive line, junior end Tyler Baron is poised for a breakout season after collecting 7 tackles for loss in 2021. Dominic Bailey and Bryson Eason should back him up, but they don’t have a lot of game experience.

Omari Thomas and Elijah Simmons likely will earn the starting spots at tackle. Tennessee does have a little more experience backing them up in Da’Jon Terry and LaTrell Bumphus.

Byron Young is listed at end or outside linebacker. He tied for the team lead in sacks with 11.5. Roman Harrison will also get some playing time.

LB: B+

The SEC is blessed to have a lot of great linebackers. Tennessee’s Jeremy Banks gets lost in the shuffle at times. He led the Vols with 128 tackles last season, and he was tied in both tackles for loss and sacks.

Aaron Beasley will start alongside Banks in the middle of the Tennessee defense. He was 2nd on the team in tackles with 84.

Redshirt senior Solon Page III will look to build on his 39 tackles from a year ago. The key here might be Texas transfer Juwan Mitchell, who saw his 1st season in Knoxville limited by injury.

DB: C

Tennessee was at the bottom of the SEC with more than 273 passing yards allowed per game. That same Volunteers secondary also lost Alontae Taylor and Theo Jackson to the NFL Draft.

Trevon Flowers and Jaylen McCollough should be set to start at safety. Warren Burrell and Kamal Hadden have the inside track to start at corner.

After that, there are a lot of unknowns.

Special teams: B

Tennessee returns seniors at placekicker in Chase McGrath and at punter in Paxton Brooks.

Holiday might have the inside track as a punt and kick returner, but replacing Velus Jones Jr., now with the Chicago Bears, won’t be easy.