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Tennessee Football: Vols May Have a Serious Problem at Linebacker

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 26, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators wide receiver Brandon Powell (4) runs with the ball as Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (21) and linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. (34) defend during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators wide receiver Brandon Powell (4) runs with the ball as Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (21) and linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. (34) defend during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee football should have a lot of depth going into the 2016 season, but the Volunteers appear to have a major problem at the linebacker position.

The news broke on Sunday. Just after Tennessee football was revealed to be ranked No. 9 in the preseason poll, a media leak by Bob Shoop suggested otherwise. Regardless of how he slices it, his statements show the Vols have a problem at linebacker.

According to 247Sports, Shoop said that Colton Jumper is in the lead for the backup linebacker spot behind Darrin Kirkland Jr. and Jalen Reeves-Maybin.

Related Story: Tennessee Football: 10 Things that Set the Vols Apart from Other SEC Teams

Seriously? Colton Jumper?

Last year, Jumper started three games and was a disaster. He couldn’t get off blocks and was clearly not athletic enough to hang with top talent.

Of course, all Shoop could say was that Jumper has had a good camp and was the “Vols’ most consistent performer.” He also said Jumper is smart and gets everybody lined up. However, that means very little.

Compared to the praise that other players get when they assert themselves, the message from Shoop there was clear.

He might as well have said, “I have no choice.”

All this means is that nobody else has been able to figure out the system yet. So, by default, Jumper is the one behind Kirkland and Reeves-Maybin.

And that’s not good news.

Of course, Shoop praised Gavin Bryant and Daniel Bituli but said they have work to do to learn the system.

Fine.

What happened to Dillon Bates or Kenny Bynum? These guys are veterans. The fact that they can’t supplant Jumper in the rotation is a scary thought.

We say this with all due respect to Jumper. He is a hard worker who clearly loves Tennessee. He is smart and plays his heart out.

But he’s just not good enough to play in the SEC. His three big games last year were against the Bowling Green Falcons, Oklahoma Sooners, and Florida Gators.

And he was awful in all three games.

Shoop tried to quell those concerns with his quotes on Sunday as well. He said those are three teams ‘where the middle linebacker can get exposed and be spread out all over the place by really good athletes.’

Oh, that’s reassuring. So we shouldn’t worry about Jumper’s struggles last year because they were against good athletes. Seriously, what kind of defense is that?

Won’t he be facing good athletes all season long this year? Should Vols fans relax because he’ll at least be good against bad offenses?

Kirkland and Reeves-Maybin are going to be the starters. That’s fine. But, as Shoop said, they won’t play every down.

Jumper’s position right behind them is scary. The prospect of an injury to Kirkland and Reeves-Maybin makes things even scarier.

must read: Tennessee Football: Top 10 Ways to Define Success for Vols in 2016

As a result, Tennessee football has a serious depth problem here.

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