With Kyle Phillips, Alexis Johnson and Shy Tuttle, Tennessee football showed how in Jeremy Pruitt’s system it runs two defensive tackles and one end, in last year’s case Phillips, up front. It’s a solid combination that made the 2018 unit by far the best on the Vols.
But while Pruitt’s search for replacement defensive tackles, that replacement end has not been talked about as much. Matthew Butler was the standout in the spring, and John Mincey has some name recognition. Still, there’s no real star standing out yet. LaTrell Bumphus, however, has given Tracy Rocker and Derrick Ansley options.
Once a guy who saw action at tight end, the coaches moved him to defensive end last year. Now, the 6’3″ 273-pound lineman is ready to go, and he has worked his way into the rotation. Rocker touted Bumphus specifically as a lineman who has stood out, and that’s a huge deal given how open that smaller end position is.
Then came the depth chart, and Bumphus was listed as one of the linemen in the rotation. By the way, that rotation came out with Aubrey Solomon listed, and he may not even play. So Bumphus, with Rocker touting him and his emergence onto the scene, was a huge winner from fall camp.