Tennessee football: Five areas Vols improved as 2019 season progressed

2. Push from the defensive line

It was clear that Tennessee football would have trouble early on up front. The defensive line was their one strength in Jeremy Pruitt’s first season, and the Vols had to replace all three starters up front. Add in the fact that Emmit Gooden, the one returning contributor from last year, suffered a season-ending injury, and this unit was in for a very rough start.

That rough start combined with a freshman inside linebacker calling the plays is why the Vols struggled so severely against the Georgia State Panthers. A lack of push also wore down the defense against the BYU Cougars, which is why they were able to dominate once it got to overtime. These things were major issues.

However, players began to develop. Darel Middleton developed as a junior college transfer. Aubrey Solomon got an eligibility waiver the week of the opener and got better as the season went on. Matthew Butler, Ja’Quain Blakely and LaTrell Bumphus became reliable players on the outside. Meanwhile, Greg Emerson emerged into a star at defensive tackle as the youngest of everybody.

As a result, Rocky Top  slowly but surely got better up front throughout the year. They were never perfect, but they got the push necessary to allow the linebackers to make big plays. The watershed moment was when they helped get that goal-line stand to beat the Kentucky Wildcats on the road. Nobody can deny this unit got better, and like the linebackers, its future is bright.