Tennessee football: 10 players to watch in Vols 2019 spring game
There are enough bodies on the offensive line to assume that some guys will take a leap to help it improve. The defensive line, however, still has major questions. After all, it is different when you lose everybody there and the only returners have proven very little.
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One thing that’s clear is Tennessee football needs its only returning player who saw any real action on the defensive line last year to take another huge step. Entering his senior year, Emmit Gooden is the guy who needs to be the star of the line.
A four-star junior college transfer in the 2018 recruiting class, Gooden always figured to explode onto the scene this year once Kyle Phillips, Alexis Johnson and Shy Tuttle graduated. But now the 6’3″ 302-pound prospect has to.
The Vols don’t need anybody to have breakout year more than Gooden, and it’s a perfect situation for him as he is a guy from Tennessee entering his senior year. If he doesn’t take a huge leap, the defensive line will be off to a horrible start for 2019.
So taking that into account, Gooden’s performance in the spring game will give us all a very good idea of where the Vols stand on the defensive line. Matthew Butler performing will be helpful in, but Gooden will be able to help determine if the Vols have a player they can put in the middle.
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Tennessee football was anchored by its defensive line last year in its only two impressive wins over the Kentucky Wildcats and Auburn Tigers. Emmit Gooden is the only player who really saw significant action there last year and is back. If the spring game doesn’t show that he’s taken a huge leap, the concern for this unit will skyrocket beyond where it already is.