Here are some Big Orange highlights from Phil Steele's 2012 College Football Preview:
TEAM RANKINGS
- Preseason ranking: 27
- The Vols rank first nationally in returning experience, which factors in senior starters and seniors listed in the two-deep, returning letterwinners and percentage of yards and tackles returning among other variables.
- Ranked The Sixth-Most Improved Team in 2012
- Ranked 11th among 2012 Surprise Teams
UNIT RANKINGS
- Wide Receivers: 6
- Offensive Line: 7
- Defensive Backs: 16
- Linebackers: 17
- Defensive Line: 20
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS (Only draft-eligible players ranked)
- Tyler Bray (Fifth-best QB)
- Da'Rick Rogers (Sixth-best WR, Second Team All-American, All-SEC First Team)
- Justin Hunter (22nd-best WR, All-SEC Second Team)
- Dallas Thomas (Ninth-best OG, All-SEC Third Team)
- Ja'Wuan James (24th-best OT, All-SEC Fourth Team)
- Prentiss Waggner (13th-best CB, All-SEC Second Team)
- A.J. Johnson (All-SEC Third Team)
JUCO RANKINGS
WR Cordarrelle Patterson - 2
DL Daniel McCullers - 20
DL Darrington Sentimore - 34
FRESHMAN RANKINGS (By position)
TE Justin Meredith - 12
DB - LaDarrell McNeil - 14
RB Davante Bourque - 27
WR Drae Bowles - 27
