Tennessee football 2018 preview by position: Vols LBs
Projected starters at outside linebacker
Jonathan Kongbo; Senior; 6’5″ 254 lbs; Surrey, B.C. (Canada)
Conventional wisdom says that Jonathan Kongbo shouldn’t start yet because he spent all of the spring playing defensive end for Tennessee football and needs to learn the system. However, you have to take into account why Jeremy Pruitt and Kevin Sherrer converted him. We know Kongbo is a good defensive end. We also know the outside linebacker situation is pretty deep.
As a result, the only way the coaches would have made this move is if Kongbo was too special of a player here to pass up. And given that fact, it’s safe to assume that he’ll become an edge rusher here. Kongbo should be able to thrive pinning his ears back and rushing the passer. Expect him to become a breakout superstar with the Vols his senior year. That’s how much faith you should have in the former five-star prospect.
Darrell Taylor; Junior; 6’4″ 247 lbs; Waverly, Va.
Darrell Taylor managed to make a name for himself as a playmaker on the outside last year at defensive end. Transitioning to outside linebacker should make it even easier for him to get off blocks and into the backfield. As a result, he’ll be the perfect player opposite Kongbo to be able to wreak havoc on teams.
On top of that, Taylor was able to practice at this position all spring. So he’ll see lots of action as well. And he is a guy who can leap off your television set, so Pruitt and Sherrer want to use him as much as possible to blow up plays.
Other outside linebackers in the rotation
Jordan Allen; Sophomore; 6’4″ 242 lbs; Fairfield, Calif.
A four-star junior college transfer, Jordan Allen should come in and make an immediate impact. He is another defensive end the Vols are moving to edge rusher. Allen will be right there in the rotation with Kongbo and Taylor, but there’s a seniority factor that applies to the other guys to make them starters. On top of that, they both practiced throughout the spring. So Allen has some catching up to do.
Deandre Johnson; Sophomore; 6’3″ 244 lbs; Miami, Fla.
Yes, all four guys in the Vols’ outside linebacker rotation are converts from defensive end. The final one is Deandre Johnson, who was a reserve last year but saw action down the stretch due to injury. In that time, he picked up two tackles for a loss and a sack. So he can be a playmaker, and he’ll be in this rotation. But the other guys are more proven or have more raw talent. So while Johnson will play, he’s the last guy to actually be in the rotation on the outside.