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Tennessee football: Five areas Vols improved as 2019 season progressed

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 30: Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates with Eric Gray #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers after scoring a touchdown against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first quarter at Neyland Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 30: Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates with Eric Gray #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers after scoring a touchdown against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first quarter at Neyland Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images /

3. Inside linebacker play

Eric Gray’s dramatic improvement happened right at the end of the season. It was a giant spike over two games. This unit as a whole dramatically improved right at the beginning of the season. After the first game, there was a giant spike, and another giant spike came two weeks later. It can all be explained given how things went down.

Tennessee football lost Darrin Kirkland Jr. to an injury-forced retirement this offseason, and Daniel Bituli had to clean up a minor injury in the offseason, forcing him to miss the first two game. As a result, Henry To’o To’o, a four-star true freshman, was tasked with leading the inside linebackers against the Georgia State Panthers. It was a brutal task for him.

Being a freshman, To’o To’o struggled severely, and UT could not stop the offense with Dan Ellington at quarterback. The very next week, however, he helped shut down the BYU Cougars with the exception of one bad angle in the one touchdown the Vols allowed in regulation and the defensive issues in overtime. However, To’o To’o continued to develop.

Meanwhile, after the second game, Bituli returned. The combination of To’o To’o developing and Bituli coming back made for an epic turnaround here, and these two became the anchor of the defense. Now, To’o To’o is destined to lead the defense going forward, as he became a breakout star. That’s why this unit improved so dramatically. It also is why UT has a bright future there.

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