Tennessee football lost a breakout star in Alexis Johnson Jr. However, they lost an experienced veteran, a leader, and a humble team player in Shy Tuttle. Those things are why he will be difficult to replace.
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For his senior season, Tuttle didn’t have the same level of stats that Johnson did. But once a four-star recruit in the 2015 class who suffered back to back season-ending injuries, he was a leader and inspiration for this team. And he produced in a big way.
Tuttle was willing to accept the less glamorous role of nose tackle to get the pushes necessary that allowed other guys to make plays and rack up the stats. In that role, he helped the defensive line become the best part of the Vols’ unit.
And he wasn’t without major stats. Tuttle finished the season with 33 tackles, three tackles for a loss, a sack and an interception. Oh, and he also had a critical field goal block against the Kentucky Wildcats. He managed to make plays when he was needed.
Given his strength, his team-first attitude, his high IQ and his agility, Tuttle will find a spot on an NFL roster. But he is going to be a guy who is almost impossible for the Vols to be able to replace just out of the blue.
When Tuttle and Johnson got tired in games in the second half, Jeremy Pruitt’s defense saw a huge drop-off. He did not have the depth to replace those guys, and that’s a big reason they will be so hard to replace this year.