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Tennessee football roster: Projecting the Vols’ 2017 2-deep depth chart

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 12, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view of Neyland Stadium at halftime during the game between Tennessee Volunteers and the Oklahoma Sooners. Oklahoma won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view of Neyland Stadium at halftime during the game between Tennessee Volunteers and the Oklahoma Sooners. Oklahoma won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 10, 2016; Bristol, TN, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Jerod Evans (4) is sacked by Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Kendal Vickers (39) during the second half at Bristol Motor Speedway. Tennessee won 45-24. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Bristol, TN, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Jerod Evans (4) is sacked by Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Kendal Vickers (39) during the second half at Bristol Motor Speedway. Tennessee won 45-24. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive Tackle

1. Kendal Vickers

The only clear-cut starter at defensive tackle for the Vols this year is likely the guy with the least amount of raw talent. And he sat out spring practice. But Kendal Vickers has been one of the biggest over-achievers in the history of Tennessee football.

The 6’3″ 295-pound redshirt senior was once a three-star undersized defensive end. He converted to tackle his sophomore year, and with 25 starts there the past two years, he’s registered 58 tackles, three sacks, and seven and a half tackles for a loss. Vickers is the reliable guy here, and reliability counts. So he’s one clear starter.

2. Kahlil McKenzie

This is one guy who has all the eyes on him. Kahlil McKenzie, a Tennessee football legacy and once a five-star recruit at defensive tackle, but the 6’3″ 325-pound junior has spent his first two years in Knoxville as a backup and then suffered a season-ending injury last year.

Now, coming back, it’s time for him to reach his potential. McKenzie is one of the most talented guys on the roster, and should he stay healthy, he can break out into a star. With 36 tackles in two years as a backup, he can do it. And we predict that this year, finally as a starter, he will.

3. Quay Picou

Quay Picou stood out almost the same way Darrell Taylor did this past spring, and you can bet that made an impression under first-year defensive line coach Brady Hoke. As a result, we have the 6’1″ 277-pound junior coming in as the No. 3 defensive tackle on this list. He hasn’t had a chance to stay fully healthy yet, but he’ll definitely be in the rotation this Fall.

4. Shy Tuttle

Again, with two defensive tackles in a 4-3 set, we need to have four on here. And Shy Tuttle is the clear-cut other guy on this roster. The 6’2″ 311-pound junior has been very effective while on the field for the Vols the past two years, but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. That’s why we have him No. 4 on this list, although we still predict he’ll be a major part of the rotation.

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