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Tennessee football: Ranking position groups for the 2018 football season

By Billy Williford

ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 1: Jauan Jennings #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers rides the shoulders of Gavin Bryant #36 after making the game winning catch against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 1: Jauan Jennings #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers rides the shoulders of Gavin Bryant #36 after making the game winning catch against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 7: Jerell Adams #89 of the South Carolina Gamecocks scores a touchdown on a 7-yard reception against Darrin Kirkland Jr. #34 of the Tennessee Volunteers in the third quarter of a game at Neyland Stadium on November 7, 2015, in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

No. 3 Linebackers

The linebackers should be one of the most consistent groups on the team. They have the experience and talent to best one of the best in the SEC.

Key Players

Darrell Taylor – R/JR

Darrin Kirkland Jr. R/JR

Daniel Bituli – JR

J.J. Peterson -FR

Quart’e Sapp – R/JR

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    • Arguably the leader of the group, Darrin Kirkland Jr. was going to leave the Vols and play the rest of his college career somewhere else. That was until a sitdown with Jeremy Pruitt and his family happened. I was convinced that Pruitt sold him on something, but that was not the case. Nonetheless, Kirkland Jr. is on the team, and if he can stay healthy, he should contribute SEC league-leading numbers.

    After Kirkland Jr., there are a lot of talented players. Junior Daniel Bituli stepped up in a big way last season. In fact, most of the games he led the Vols in tackles. Most games it seemed like Bituli was all over the field.

    Darrell Taylor and Quart’e Sapp will be vital pieces to the success of this unit. They both will have their opportunity for playing time in pivotal moments. They both have had good offseasons and should flourish in the new defensive scheme.

    And, then there is new enrollee J.J. Peterson. The four-star prospect from Moultrie, Georgia was a highly rated from the 2018 class. Do not count him out when it comes to playing time next season.

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