Tennessee football: Jonathan Kongbo switch leaves Vols unproven at defensive end
Tennessee football senior Jonathan Kongbo appears to be switching to outside linebacker, leaving the Volunteers loaded there but unproven at defensive end.
A five-star junior college defensive end commitment two years ago, Jonathan Kongbo has had to rotate inside to defensive tackle and out of his natural position far too often to account for injuries. Now, though, he’s moving to another position for Tennessee football. And this one could be significantly more useful.
Jeremy Pruitt appears to be taking the Darrell Taylor route with Kongbo and moving him to outside linebacker. Kongbo made the announcement on Twitter last Friday.
For Pruitt’s and Kevin Sherrer’s system, this is the perfect chance for more playmakers. They love to focus on guys who can affect the quarterback as pass-rushers in a 3-4 system, so outside linebackers are often bigger, faster guys who can get off blocks and run full speed at the quarterback without having to think about where the play is going.
As a result, this move leaves the Vols loaded there. Kongbo and Taylor were already playmakers at end. With this move, they could be a duo reminiscent of Demarcus Ware and Von Miller when the Denver Broncos led Peyton Manning to a Super Bowl.
Add in Deandre Johnson and Ryan Thaxton, and the Vols are more than loaded at outside linebacker now. They have the perfect personnel for what they’re trying to do.
However, at defensive end, it’s a different story. Remember, to be able to make an impact in this system, the outside linebackers need a push from the nose tackle and to have the ends accounted for. Shy Tuttle at nose tackle will be a question no matter what until opening day.
As for the ends, Kyle Phillips is the only proven guy. And he hasn’t reached his full potential since he has struggled with injuries during his Tennessee football career.
After Phillips, though, the only returning defensive end who even had a tackle last year is Matthew Butler. So this leaves things wide open.
To be fair, Pruitt added a four-star junior college player in Jordan Allen. But he could be another outside linebacker for Tennessee football. So that still may leave the Vols thin on the line.
Other guys who could get into the mix include Austin Smith and LaTrell Bumphus. Bumphus committed to Tennessee football as a defensive end. However, the coaches moved him over to tight end. Pruitt moved him back in the spring, and that should be helpful.
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Outside of that, though, the Vols have numerous questions here. How are they going to be able to reach their full front seven potential without a little more help at end? Perhaps Pruitt and Sherrer have ideas up their sleeve. But if they don’t Tennessee football needs some immediate help there and fast. At least they are extremely deep at outside linebacker now.