Vols Football: Report Card for Each Position in Tennessee’s 2015 Class

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Jan 2, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (34) pressures Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Jake Rudock (15) into throwing an incomplete pass in the first quarter of their 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Linebackers: B+

One of the biggest question marks heading into Tennessee’s 2015 season is at middle linebacker with senior A.J. Johnson graduating. Jakob Johnson and Justin King played significant time at middle linebacker at the end of the season after A.J. Johnson was suspended during an investigation into rape allegations, but neither looked particularly impressive at the position.

The Vols redshirted former four-star inside linebacker Gavin Bryant this season, and Dillon Bates, also a redshirt freshman in 2015, will compete for time at the position as well. But the Vols added another talented middle linebacker prospect in the 2015 class as well as a couple other intriguing linebacker prospects.

Darrin Kirkland Jr. is a four-star inside linebacker out of Indianapolis, Indiana, and he has the potential to make an immediate impact for the Vols. Kirkland is an early enrollee with a great deal of upside thanks to his athleticism. He should compete immediately for playing time.

Four-star outside linebacker Quart’e Sapp is a highly athletic prospect that is a bit raw, but he has the ability to contribute on special teams as a freshman much like Jalen Reeves-Maybin did. Three-star outside linebacker Austin Smith is an underrated and rather unheralded recruit who will look to compete for playing time on special teams as well.

The linebackers in the 2015 class for the Vols aren’t extremely deep, but the talent is there, and the Vols added a piece at an area of need with Kirkland.  Adding Sapp late in the cycle was crucial, and it potentially saved the Vols from becoming desperate at the position in the 2016 class.