5 story lines to monitor as Tennessee Vols open spring practice under Jeremy Pruitt

Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) celebrates a touchdown during Tennessee's game against Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017.

Tennessee's spring practice should carry plenty of intrigue.

The Vols have a new coach in Jeremy Pruitt, new coordinators, a quarterback competition and new offensive and defensive schemes.

Tennessee's spring practice will open Tuesday and conclude with the spring game on April 21.

More:Why Jeremy Pruitt thinks ex-QB Chris Weinke will help Tennessee Vols RBs in pass protection

Here are five story lines to monitor throughout the spring.

How different will Tyson Helton's offensive system be?

Helton, UT's offensive coordinator, has made clear he plans to install a pro-style system reliant on a power running game and downfield passing.

How different will that look to fans? Does that mean more snaps under center, more play-action passing and more plays with a second running back or a tight end in the backfield?

Or will the change mostly consist of style of play differences and not in alignment?

Does Tennessee's personnel mesh with Pruitt's plans for a 3-4 defense?

Vols defensive lineman Shy Tuttle (2) participates in a drill during practice Aug. 24, 2017.

Pruitt wants to move Tennessee's base defense from a 4-3 to a 3-4. Tennessee should have plenty of options at defensive end and outside linebacker to make it happen.

The bigger issue is whether the Vols have someone who can be a rock at nose tackle, while another big lineman is needed to anchor one end of the line.

Junior college signee Emmit Gooden, who is 6-4, 305, will help address that need, but he won't arrive until the summer.

A lot of the onus this spring will be on tackles Shy Tuttle and Alexis Johnson.

Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) throws a pass during a game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday Nov. 25, 2017.

Do Tennessee's quarterbacks show improvement?

Keller Chryst, a graduate transfer from Stanford, will be a top player to monitor in fall practice. But he won't arrive at UT until this summer. Neither will 2018 signee JT Shrout.

More:UT Vols' QB competition wide open with Jarrett Guarantano, Keller Chryst, others

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That means rising sophomores Jarrett Guarantano, who started six games last season, and Will McBride, who started one, will be the team's only scholarship QBs in spring practice. That gives them a leg up on the competition. For one, they have more time in front of the coaches. And two, they'll have a longer period to adopt Helton's system.

More:Will Vols QBs Jarrett Guarantano or Will McBride adjust better to new system this spring?

With a strong spring, Guarantano can establish himself as the man to beat entering August.

Tennessee's Drew Richmond (51) will be the only returning starter from the offensive line who will participate in spring camp.

Who lines up where on the offensive line?

Tennessee will open camp with eight scholarship O-linemen available to practice, according to the injury report Pruitt offered earlier this month. 

Trey Smith, one of the team's two returning starters on the line and arguably the team's best player, will be out for the spring with an undisclosed medical issue.

Ryan Johnson likely will be the first-string center, and Drew Richmond should claim a tackle spot. The other spots are up for grabs on a unit that struggled last season.

Early enrollee Jerome Carvin, a 6-foot-4, 330-pound four-star signee, will be worth monitoring.

Which early enrollees look like immediate contributors?

Carvin is a candidate to play as a true freshman. He was one of the team's top signees, and he plays a position of need.

Carvin will be among seven early enrolles in spring practice. Of the others, outside linebacker Jordan Allen, a juco transfer, plus wide receiver Alontae Taylor and punter Paxton Brooks, likely will contribute in 2018.