Tennessee football: 10 players Vols can’t afford to lose for 2019
And we’re sticking with defensive tackle for our top spot on the list. He’s also a surprising guy to be No. 1. But Tennessee football appears to have found a standout performer in Greg Emerson, and that’s a big deal.
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A four-star recruit in the 2018 class, Emerson joined three-star recruits Kingston Harris and Kurrott Garland in taking a redshirt last year. But he had enough potential that the coaches wanted to get him out on the field somehow, so they tried him at offensive line. He moved back, though, and saw one game before his redshirt.
Now, Emerson is settled in at defensive line. And he has been the explosive breakout player so far in fall camp. At 6’3″ 309 pounds, he certainly has the most hype around him. But with Garland in the transfer portal, Elijah Simmons still being a true freshman and Harris likely to develop, Emerson is the young defensive lineman with the most hype.
This is a likely breakout year for him now with Gooden out, and Jeremy Pruitt will likely turn to the redshirt freshman to anchor the brand new unit. Because of that, there’s no way the Vols can afford to lose him and his potential.
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It’s rare for so many defensive linemen to be on a list like this. But Tennessee football needs immediate help here and in the trenches in general. And losing any players on either side could turn disastrous for the program, which is why we have three offensive and three defensive linemen on here.