Tennessee football: Ranking Vols 12 summer enrollees by potential impact for 2019

It’s debatable whether or not Tennessee football is more desperate for help at offensive line or defensive line this year. The offensive line had a better recruiting class and has a lot more talent returning while the defensive line lost all three starters. However, the offensive line also was historically bad last year, so returning starters may not be a positive.

Anyway, while the desperation is debatable, the openness for starting roles is not. Jeremy Pruitt at least has a few clear guys to work with on the offensive line. Everything is open on the defensive line, starting with the fact that one of the transfers there, Aubrey Solomon, may not be eligible to play this year.

Only Emmit Gooden is a proven returning contributor, and we emphasize contributor. He did not start. All of this allows for Darel Middleton to come in and make an impact. A member of Last Chance U, Middle ton is originally an East Tennessee prospect.

He was only a three-star on Rivals, and that combined with him being a summer enrollee has him last among our defensive linemen on this list. But at 6’6″ 280 pounds, he has a bit of versatility to him that could allow him to play defensive end or defensive tackle. And that could be an advantage for the junior college transfer this year.