College football season is underway.
At this time of the year, each team is gearing up for a championship run, while select players are working to boost their stock for next year’s draft.
General manager Jon Robinson and the Titans scouts have already taken an interest in these players, and will be watching them closely for the next year.
Tennessee recently signed center Ben Jones, who was set to be a free agent after the 2019 season, to a two-year contract extension. However, Jack Conklin, Dennis Kelly, and Kevin Pamphile will all be searching for a new contract in 2020.
If some of these guys aren’t retained, here are some college prospects the Titans could bring in to replace them.
Early Rounds (1-2)
- Trey Adams– The offensive tackle out of Washington likely could have entered the 2018 NFL draft and been a first-round pick, but elected to stay in college due to injuries in 2017. Last year, Adams had back surgery but was able to return later in the season and had a decent year. It will be imperative for Adams to stay healthy throughout the 2019 season, as that is his biggest question mark coming out of college with two major injuries stacked up on one another.
- Trey Smith– We haven’t gotten to see a lot of Smith since he joined the Volunteers, but what we have seen has been outstanding. Smith has dealt with blood clots in his lungs since his freshman season, which could possibly move him down draft boards. The 6-foot-6, 320-pounder can play at either tackle or guard position. He does plan to play in 2019, but will likely be on a snap count.
- Calvin Throckmorton– Throckmorton is a guy who has experience playing both tackle positions, center, and right guard. He stands at 6-foot-5, and weighs in at 318 pounds. He has great durability, starting in 38 straight games, and is a polished blocker at the college level in both pass protection and run blocking.
- Tristan Wirfs– Wirfs is a 6-foot-5 322-pound offensive tackle with a ton of athleticism. He broke into the starting lineup at Iowa his freshman year, and last season he wasn’t responsible for a single sack.
- Mekhi Becton– This 6-foot-7, 369-pounder and is a polished blocker with some athleticism to go with his size. However, he may need to cut down on some of his weight entering the NFL.
- Solomon Kindley– Despite being 6-foot-4 and 355 pounds, this Georgia guard is light on his feet for such a big man, and has a nasty playing style — which the Titans love from a player in the trenches.
- Shane Lemieux– Lemieux is the second offensive lineman from Oregon to make the list. Just like Throckmorton, he has made 38 straight starts. During that time he has been an anchor at the left guard position. The 6-foot-4, 319-pounder is a well-balanced run blocker and excels pass protection.
- Tyler Biadasz– Draft Wire mocked Biadasz to the Titans, a 6-foot-3, 316-pound center. Biadasz is aggressive at the point of attack and plays with sound technique.
Middle Rounds (3-5)
- Thayer Munford– The 6-foot-6, 319-pounder plays left tackle for the Buckeyes, but could be better suited to slide into guard at the NFL level. He struggled in 2018 his first year as a full time starter and then missed the final two games of that season due to a leg injury. Munford has the chance to rise in 2019 if he can improve off of last season’s performance.
- Alex Leatherwood– Leatherwood is a player that looks like an instant fit for Tennessee. He has experience playing every position along the offensive line, proving his versatility. The 6-foot-6, 322-pounder figures to be a starter for the Crimson Tide in 2019 after previously playing a depth/rotational role in 2017 and 2018.
- Jack Driscoll– Driscoll transferred from UMass to Auburn, earning all conference accolades before doing so. This spring, he won the starting position at right tackle. Listed at 6-foot-5, 296 pounds, he could stand to gain some weight for the NFL.
- Sam Cosmi– Cosmi earned at starting spot at right tackle during his redshirt freshman season. He was impressive that season with his pass blocking maturity. A 6-foot-6, 295 pounds he could also afford to add some weight to his frame ahead of the draft.
- Lucas Niang– Niang played a rotational role as a freshman for TTU, and started eight games as a sophomore. The 6-foot-7, 328-pound junior didn’t allow a sack in his first season as a full-time starter.
- Kevin Jarvis– Jarvis broke into the starting lineup at right guard for Michigan State as a freshman. He has had consistent play and strong run blocking over the pass two seasons, but has missed some time due to injuries.
- Darryl Williams– Williams can play guard or center, but would probably be a better fit at center for the NFL. Last season he was considered one of the best guards in the SEC. At 6-foot-2, 310 pounds he known for having great blocking technique to make up for his lack of size.
- Jack Hansen– Hansen is the center for Oregon, standing a 6-foot-5 and weighing in at 302lbs. Hansen has been a dependable blocker for the Ducks over the last two seasons. His only knock is that he may need to add some weight in muscle for the NFL.
Late Rounds (6-FA)
- Josh Jones– At 6-foot-7 and 310 pounds, Jones has been the starting left tackle for Houston over the past three seasons. He has received praise for his run blocking but he still has some things to work on in pass protection.
- Landon Young– Young is a player who has shown promise, but has been limited due to injuries. The 6-foot-7, 307-pounder has had solid play on the field, but it just has happened often enough.
