It’s never, ever too early to start looking ahead to the next football season.

Tennessee football coach Butch Jones

Let’s take a look at 15 predictions for the Tennessee Volunteers heading into 2015 —Â a season that will feature bigger expectations for the Vols.

1. Tennessee’s offensive line will be better overall, but offensive tackles will remain a work in progess.

Perhaps the best way to look at this is “it can’t get much worse.” Things didn’t look very good up front for much of 2014, but that’s what happens when you have five new starters. A general thought for the 2015 group is that it will be bigger, stronger and better than it was in 2014, but that offensive tackle will remain a work in progress. A guess is that Dontavius Blair will be the primary left tackle, and Kyler Kerbyson will be the primary right tackle, but that Brett Kendrick will play some, as well, and that the tackles will eventually play much better later in the season. Overall, the group should be better. There really is some ability in that group.

2. One quarterback will start every game.

And that quarterback will be Joshua Dobbs. The Vols haven’t started the same quarterback in every game very often in recent years, but Dobbs seems to be a clear-cut starter heading into 2015. Sure, Butch Jones might call it an “open competition,” because that’s what he does, but everyone knew Justin Worley was going to be the quarterback in 2014, and he was as long as he was healthy. It should be the same way with Dobbs in 2015. And he’s a better fit for this offense.

3. Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara each will rush for at least 700 yards.

It’s been awhile since Tennessee had two running backs as talented as Hurd and Kamara on the same team. In addition to needing more running-back depth, UT wants someone to share some of the workload with Hurd, and that means Kamara — an early enrollee from the 2015 class — should get plenty of touches. Hurd probably will remain the Vols’ starter, but Kamara’s speed, agility and pass-catching ability could make Tennessee’s backfield as explosive and productive as it has been in several years.

4. Pig Howard will lead Tennessee in catches for a third consecutive season.

Vols sophomore linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (Photo: Knoxville News Sentinel)

Someone else probably will end up leading the team in receiving yards, considering the number of weapons Tennessee has at the wide-receiver position. But Howard keeps leading the Vols in catches, and there’s a reason for that. And assuming Dobbs remains the starter, we know that his quarterback will be very comfortable with him.

5. Von Pearson will lead the team in receiving yards.

Tennessee appeared to have plenty of receiver depth going into this season, but injuries took a toll on what once was the Vols’ deepest position. North, Pearson, Josh Malone and Jason Croom were banged up for large portions of the season, and Josh Smith took a medical redshirt. Any of those players — or this season’s leading receiver, Howard — could be UT’s leader in receiving yards in 2015. But Pearson played well at the end of this season and should be even better, and healthier, as a senior.

6. Derek Barnett won’t match his numbers from his freshman season.

This is no knock on Barnett, who set UT freshman records by racking up 20.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks during his impressive first year with the Vols. But not many players in SEC history have been able to duplicate those types of numbers throughout their college careers. Barnett will command plenty of attention from opposing offensive lines next season, and while he might be an even better player, he might struggle to duplicate his double-digit sack total and post more than 20 tackles for loss again in 2015.

7. A true freshman will start at defensive tackle for at least half of the season.

The expectations will be high for UT’s two incoming five-star defensive tackles, Kahlil McKenzie and Shy Tuttle. And while it’s often not easy for freshmen to start at that position, both players — McKenzie in particular — appear to be college-ready. Being an early enrollee also should help Tuttle’s chances of seeing the field right away. The Vols need help at defensive tackle, where they’re looking to replace starter Jordan Williams, and they won’t be able to keep McKenzie and Tuttle out of the starting lineup for long.

8. Jalen Reeves-Maybin will have at least 30 more tackles than any teammate.

Vols junior wide receiver Von Pearson (Photo: Knoxville News Sentinel)

In all candor, it’s not much of a stretch that Reeves-Maybin will lead Tennessee in tackles, now that A.J. Johnson is gone. So let’s spice it up and say the junior-to-be linebacker will collect at least 30 more tackles more than anyone else on the roster. If Reeves-Maybin stays healthy — and he usually has — he could have a huge season.

9. Tennessee will force at least 26 turnovers.

Assuming the Vols will play at least 13 games — and there’s no logical reason why that shouldn’t happen —Â their defense should be good enough to force at least two turnovers per game, on average. Everyone knows how special the defensive line and secondary should be, and there are a couple of very good talents at linebacker, as well. That group should have more than enough size and speed and dynamics to force turnovers and be the true “Orange Swarm” that defensive coordinator John Jancek wants.

10. Tennessee will have its third consecutive top-10 recruiting class.

Coach Butch Jones’ staff signed a consensus top-10 class in 2014 and appears to be well on its way to repeating that feat with its 2015 recruiting class. With Tennessee now having some momentum in terms of on-field results to back up its recruiting success, the Vols should be able to continue recruiting well. And they’re already off to a good start in the 2016 class, with three commitments who currently are ranked among the nation’s top 250 prospects in the 247Sports Composite.

11. Evan Berry will be one of the SEC’s top three kick returners.

Berry has every skill a great kickoff return specialist needs. He has enough size to take some hits, and he’s fearless and very fast in a straight line. He’ll take a few big hits but also break some big returns, and after a full offseason in the strength and conditioning program, he could be ready for a big 2015 season.

12. The Vols will sign no more than 23 players in the 2016 class.

Tennessee signed 32 players in the 2014 class and currently has 27 commitments for its 2015 recruiting class. The Vols have gotten a bit creative with their numbers to be able to squeeze that many players into consecutive classes, and that creativity — combined with a relatively small rising senior class — likely will force UT to sign a slightly smaller 2016 class. It’s far too early to tell just how small that class might be, but it seems unlikely right now that the Vols will sign a full class of 25.

13. Tennessee will start three different players at nickel back.

After relying nearly exclusively on the now-departed Justin Coleman in 2014, look for the Vols to rotate a few different players there in 2015. They’ll have plenty of options, with players like sophomore-to-be Rashaan Gaulden, junior-to-be Malik Foreman and any one of a few highly touted 2015 signees. Expect UT to rotate a few different players there and continue the competition throughout the season, at least for a while.

14. UT will land at least three of the top five in-state prospects in the 2016 class.

Four-star offensive tackle Ryan Johnson, the state’s No. 5 prospect in 247Sports’ rankings for the 2016 class, already has committed to Tennessee, and the Vols are heavily involved with the rest of the state’s current top five junior prospects. While the rankings will change plenty between now and signing day for the 2016 class, UT seems to have a good chance of landing its fair share of the state’s top prospects. But it once again won’t be easy for the Vols to get every in-state player they want.

15. Tennessee will win eight or more games, including its bowl game.

There’s definitely a “10 wins or bust” mindset growing in certain parts of Tennessee’s fan base, but let’s take a step back here. Looking at the 2015 schedule, the Vols look more likely to be something like 8-4 rather than 10-2. It seems fair to suggest Tennessee should win at least eight games, though, including its bowl game. That seems like a fairer curve on which to grade the 2015 season. But obviously something like 10 wins is possible. The Vols are starting to assemble the kind of talent to make something like that possible.