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Tennessee football: 10 best overall impact players on 2018 Vols

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 09: Jonathan Kongbo #1 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates with teammates after a tackle for a loss during the first half of the game against the Indiana State Sycamores at Neyland Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 09: Jonathan Kongbo #1 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates with teammates after a tackle for a loss during the first half of the game against the Indiana State Sycamores at Neyland Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images /

You could legitimately make the case that Trey Smith deserved to be here over Jonathan Kongbo. After all, Kongbo has proven about as much as Kyle Phillips and Shy Tuttle over the past two years. So entering his senior year, this is more about potential than what he’s shown.

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    • However, Kongbo has had more of a burden placed on him than anybody. Recruited as a five-star junior college defensive end back in 2016, the previous staff grossly misused him. Due to injuries over the past two years, he’s had to move inside to defensive tackle far too often. That’s not his natural position, and he was still able to be serviceable.

    Now, he’s back on the outside purely. Jeremy Pruitt and Kevin Sherrer have even moved him to outside linebacker specifically because of how great he can be there over lining up at end. But he’ll still be the other defensive end for Tennessee football when they line up in the 4-3 set.

    Because of this, you have to assume that Kongbo is one of the top players on the team. Being decent amidst all the chaos the past two years was beyond an accomplishment for him. He now has a staff not relying on him to be decent but relying on him to maximize his full potential.

    Related Story. Ranking position groups for 2018 Vols. light

    For Kongbo, the sky is the limit this year. He’s a team guy, and he’ll likely be the face of the playmakers on the front seven. The coaches will also count on him more than anybody else, so he’s clearly one of the best players on the team.

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