Tennessee football: 15 potential dark-horse Vols for 2019 season

We all know about Darrell Taylor at outside linebacker. He is expected to turn into a major stats machine this year. However, that other outside linebacker spot is somewhat up for grabs, and it’s what makes Kivon Bennett a very intriguing star prospect.

While Deandre Johnson started there last year after the season-ending injury to Jonathan Kongbo, and while Jordan Allen brought with him the hype, Bennett is the star of the offseason. Johnson now has competition, and Allen actually has to deal with an injury that has him off the depth chart for Tennessee football outside linebackers to start the year.

Dating back to the spring, Bennett has been standing out among the coaches all offseason at 6’2″ 248 pounds, and he now has a chance to become a full-time starter. The question is if he can turn into a superstar, and if half of what Jeremy Pruitt and media members have been saying about him is true, then it’s almost expected.

Bennett would obviously have a lot of freedom to shine given the focus on Taylor, and edge rushers in Jeremy Pruitt’s system are the position where all the stats are racked up. So if Bennett does beat out Johnson, watch for what he can do. There’s a chance he becomes the breakout defensive star for the Vols in 2019.