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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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Mar 23, 2017; Knoxville, TN, USA; Darrin Kirkland Jr. (34) stretches during Tennessee Volunteers football practice at Anderson Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Calvin Mattheis/Knoxville News Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK
Mar 23, 2017; Knoxville, TN, USA; Darrin Kirkland Jr. (34) stretches during Tennessee Volunteers football practice at Anderson Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Calvin Mattheis/Knoxville News Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK /

Middle Linebacker

1. Darrin Kirkland Jr.

This is the one certainty about the linebacker spot. Darrin Kirkland Jr. has been the most reliable linebacker the past two years, although he did miss half of last year due to injury. Still, the 6’1″ 230-pound junior could be a breakout star for the Vols this year. He has recorded 111 tackles through 21 games so far in his career, and he also has four sacks, 11 and a half tackles for a loss.

The guy is an all-around elite middle linebacker and the perfect guy for Bob Shoop in his system. He’s also great in coverage against teams that like to spread the field.

But should he get hurt again, his backup is a guy who has been one of the best development stories for the program.

2. Colton Jumper

Last year, I said that Colton Jumper was one of the guys who shouldn’t see the field for the Vols. I was wrong. When Kirkland got hurt early in the year, Jumper filled in and had an epic game against the Florida Gators.

He saw action in all 13 games last year and recorded 61 tackles and four tackles for a loss. This year, Jumper will once again be a backup, but with more experience, the 6’2″ 224-pound over-achieving redshirt junior has earned this No. 2 spot in the Tennessee football depth chart.

You can bet that he’ll be in the rotation with Kirkland and see plenty of action on the field this year.

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