Tennessee football: Ranking Vols 12 summer enrollees by potential impact for 2019
As we said, Tennessee football’s need at defensive line is desperate. All three starters, Kyle Phillips, Alexis Johnson and Shy Tuttle are gone, and Emmit Gooden is the only guy who has any experience right now and could start.
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Matthew Butler has made an impact at defensive end, where John Mincey and maybe even newcomer Darel Middleton could provide a push. But outside of Gooden, only Michigan Wolverines Aubrey Solomon has made an impact at defensive tackle, and he might not play.
Nobody else is proven at all, and that leaves Savion Williams. Like Middleton, he is a junior college transfer. Unlike Middleton, he is a four-star who brings more hype with him, and he’s more specifically built for defensive tackle.
The experience combined with the hype make him a favorite to play for the Vols immediately. You can bet that the 6’4″ 315-pound junior college transfer is almost a certainty to be the No. 2 or No. 3 defensive tackle in the rotation.
Heck, he could be the No. 1 guy. Gooden and Solomon led the way in the spring, but Williams could surpass both of them. If he doesn’t he’s a heavy favorite to stay in the mix with the way the roster shakes out now.
Related Story. Projecting the Vols' 2019 2-deep depth chart. light
A dose of experience, size and talent is just what the Vols need to reload their defensive line. Williams can provide all of that immediately, so he’s a strong favorite to make an early impact, which is why he’s so high on this list.