Tennessee football: Five reasons Georgia State could upset Vols

3. A brand new Vols defensive line faces a veteran Panthers rushing attack.

As if it weren’t tough enough for Tennessee football on the offensive line, the trenches get harder when it comes to the defensive line. A structural issue that was plaguing the Vols all offseason is now about to be put to the test.

UT’s best unit last year was the defensive line and the only reason they didn’t go 3-9, maybe even 2-10. But they lost everybody up front. Alexis Johnson, Kyle Phillips and Shy Tuttle are gone. Paul Bain, who was a solid reserve, is also gone.

Making matters worse, their only returning contributor, Emmit Gooden, suffered a season-ending injury at the start of fall camp. As a result, Jeremy Pruitt has been turning to people who have never played a snap for UT up front.

The good news is redshirt freshman Greg Emerson has emerged. Michigan Wolverines transfer Aubrey Solomon was granted an eligibility waiver. Junior college transfers Savion Williams and Darel Middleton both have a ton of experience. And Elijah Simmons, Kurrott Garland and Kingston Harris all provide size. Matthew Butler, LaTrell Bumphus and John Mincey do the same at end.

So there are some bodies. But none of them are proven. Meanwhile, Georgia State returns most of its offensive line and actually has a ton of potential in the running game. Both Tra Barnett and Seth Paige, who will be by-committee starters this year, averaged over five yards a carry in 2018. They figure to take a major leap.

If that happens, and if Tennessee football hasn’t found reliability up front, the Vols could have serious trouble stopping the run. That’s especially true with mobile quarterback Dan Ellington there to complement Barnett and Paige to make a three-headed monster. He leads to our next reason for UT to be on upset alert.