Meet the Tennessee Football Recruits: Vols OLB Daniel Bituli

Here is an analysis of incoming 2016 Tennessee football recruit Daniel Bituli, who joins the Volunteers as an outside linebacker.

As Curt Maggitt departs, Butch Jones and the Tennessee Vols look to replace him with another versatile edge rusher who can thrive as a linebacker or a defensive end. They may have replaced it immediately with the arrival of Daniel Bituli.

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Bituli is a four-star outside linebacker on Rivals who comes in at 6’3″ 228 pounds. The Nashville native out of Nashville Christian School is clearly an in-state guy committing for the program, as he announced his commitment last July and never wavered from it.

Ranked a Top 20 linebacker in the country and Top 10 player in the state of Tennessee, the Vols appear to have a great pick up in Bituli. He could play early too if he shows what he can do.

Early Analysis

Bituli is at his best when he pins his ears back and just goes full-steam ahead after the quarterback. Think about what Von Miller does for the Denver Broncos, and that is exactly what he has the potential to be.

The best part is that as a linebacker who does that, he can clearly line up on the edge. But Bituli can also rush up the middle to get a sack or run down a running back.

The horizontal quickness along with patience and vision are also huge points in Bituli’s favor. He can run from side to side to tackle a runner very easily, and he also has great vision, evidenced by his play as a running back.

If there is a weakness in Bituli’s game, it’s that he is not proven in coverage yet. Sure, that is not what he is being recruited to do, but as a linebacker he is going to have to show an ability to play the field on passing downs if he is going to compete in the SEC, especially with the way colleges are spread out this day in age.

But outside of that, he seems like he could step on the field immediately.

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What Daniel Bituli Brings to Tennessee

In addition to their extremely deep defensive line, the Vols get that one versatile edge rusher that they lost when Curt Maggitt suffered a season-ending injury last year. Although Corey Vereen, Derek Barnett, and a host of other defensive ends appear to be in prime position to start, Bituli could fill in on that other side plenty of times because of that versatility.

It will be interesting to see if Bob Shoop is as into that fast rusher as John Jancek was.

With what he can already do, don’t be surprised if Bituli sees the field early and often in big games to come up with huge plays. He could be sent in on blitz packages and quick, disrupting plays.

And the best part is he will evolve into a leader of the program. Bituli has already said he wants to be a part of something special at Tennessee, and he clearly is one of those guys who will play because he loves the Vols as much as or more than he loves the idea of playing in the NFL.