Nov 22, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Curt Maggitt (56) during the first half against the Missouri Tigers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
5. A Monster Defensive Line
As good as the Vols’ wide receivers and running backs will be in 2015, there’s one position group that has them beat — the defensive line.
Tennessee’s d-line was solid in 2014. In fact, it was probably the most improved unit on the field. Which is ironic considering it was pointed out as a potential weakness prior to the 2014 season, but I digress.
The Vols sack leaders in 2014, Curt Maggitt and true freshman sensation Derek Barnett, will be back for more in 2015.
Barnett had one of the best freshman seasons ever by a Vol. The Nashville native accounted for ten sacks last season and a astounding 72 tackles (third most ever for a UT true freshman, most ever by a UT freshman defensive lineman).
Not only did Barnett prove that he could pressure the quarterback, he was chasing down running backs and making open field tackles.
Joining Barnett as a newcomer to the defensive line last season was Maggitt.
Maggitt made the transition to the defensive line as a hybrid DL/LB, but it was clear that most of his production came with his hands in the dirt.
The Florida native led the Vols in sacks with 11 (12th in the nation) and got better as the season progressed. The Barnett/Maggitt duo should be even better in 2015.
If the Vols had one weakness along the defensive line in 2014, it was on the interior. The defensive tackles weren’t bad by any means, but they didn’t have the impact the defensive ends had.
Owen Williams and Danny O’Brien will be returning for the Volunteers, but fans are most excited about the duo of Shy Tuttle and Kahlil McKenzie.
McKenzie is the more highly touted of the two, but Tuttle (highly touted in his own right) is already on campus and could get the first shot at playing time.
I typically caution folks against having high expectations for true freshman — even the highly touted ones — but after what Cam Sutton, Jalen Hurd and Derek Barnett have done the past two seasons, I say have at it with your lofty expectations.
McKenzie and Tuttle have the potential to turn the Vols’ defensive line into the most feared in the SEC.
UT defensive coordinator John Jancek, who recently told WMNL that he likes to start building his defense up front, has done an amazing job of turning around a Tennessee defense that just three seasons ago was among the worst in the nation.
And that improved defense is a big reason the Vols will contend for the SEC East in 2015.