Vols Football: Projecting Depth Chart at Start of Fall Camp

Defensive Line Oct 11, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) rushes in for the sack on Chattanooga Mocs quarterback Jacob Huesman (14) during the first half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Starters: Derek Barnett, Owen Williams, Shy Tuttle, Corey Vereen

Backups: Dimarya Mixon, Kendall Vickers, Danny O’Brien, LaTroy Lewis

Injuries depleted this unit for the Vols this spring, as only five healthy scholarship defensive linemen participated in pring practices. Over half of the projected starters here either didn’t participate at all or were very limited. This depth chart also assumes Curt Maggitt lines up as a linebacker and not as a defensive end.

Derek Barnett missed all of spring recovering from an injury, but he is one of the few Vols guaranteed a starting position in 2015. Opposite him should be Corey Vereen when Curt Maggitt doesn’t line up as a defensive end.

In the middle of the defensive line, Shy Tuttle did enough in the spring to solidify himself as an early favorite for a starting job heading into the fall. Owen Williams saw only a little action this spring, but he’s come on strong and should nail down the other defensive tackle spot.

Luckily for the Vols, this unit projects to be the deepest unit on the team, and it shows when Kendall Vickers was one of the standout defenders in the spring and he projects as a 2nd or 3rd team defensive tackle. LaTroy Lewis and Dimarya Mixon have the experience advantage over freshmen Kyle Phillips (who missed all of spring) and Andrew Butcher, but those two will certainly push for playing time as freshmen.

Five-star defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie headlines a trio of defensive linemen that join the unit in the fall, and he should be a favorite to unseat either Tuttle or Williams for a starting tackle position.