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Tennessee football: 5 most underrated players in Vols 2019 recruiting class

By Caleb Calhoun

30 Oct 1999: The band leader of the Tennessee Volunteers marches on the field at halftime during the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at the Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Volunteers defeated the Gamecocks 30-7. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport
30 Oct 1999: The band leader of the Tennessee Volunteers marches on the field at halftime during the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at the Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Volunteers defeated the Gamecocks 30-7. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport /
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Tennessee football got two junior college defensive tackles, a four-star and a three-star, to fill the incredible need at that position. But they also got Elijah Simmons, their third tackle on the list, who could be the four-year guy they needed to play nose tackle.

It’s hard to understand why Simmons was only a three-star. Perhaps it’s because people view him as overweight at 6’2″ 350 pounds. And that is definitely possible. But the Vols have a good enough conditioning program to trim that down.

Also, running a 3-4 defense, Simmons doesn’t have to get to slim to play in Jeremy Pruitt’s and Kevin Sherrer’s system. They love huge nose tackles who can get a major push up front, and Simmons should be able to do that. He doesn’t have to fill the glamorous role. His play could still make him a huge steal, no pun intended.

Most notably, even with his size, there’s the fact that Simmons is freakishly athletic. The guy showed that he is able to dunk a basketball despite all that weight and just being 6’2″. So all he needs to do is shed about 20 pounds, and if that helps him pick up some athleticism, there will be no weaknesses in his game as a defensive tackle.

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