An experienced, talented offensive line was supposed to be the strength of the Tennessee football team this season, and indeed, an eventual honey hole for future NFL draft picks. And while NFL futures surely still await several of the Volunteers' offensive front, the group hit a bottom of sorts on Monday: Ridicule from its own coach.
UT coach Butch Jones was overheard at practice nicknaming the group "Club 90" Tuesday, referencing Tennessee being held to just 94 rushing yards in a blowout loss to Missouri Saturday. Guard Zach Fulton, the 79th-ranked senior NFL prospect in college football by NFL Media senior analyst Gil Brandt, was labeled by Jones as "the softest of the soft." The group was flagged for six false starts against Missouri, as well.
Left tackle Antonio Richardson is considered the top NFL prospect on the line, followed by right tackle Ja'Wuan James, center James Stone, and Fulton. The Vols face Auburn this weekend, and of course, Tigers coach Gus Malzahn had nothing but positives to say about the opposing offensive line.
"That is one of the better offensive lines that we've played," Malzahn said, according to al.com. "They're a veteran group. They're big, they're physical, and I think they're very talented."
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread.*
