Tennessee football: 10 Vols who should redshirt in 2020

We’re not done with defensive tackles who could use a redshirt. Tennessee football freshmen Dominic Bailey and Omari Thomas could use it for lack of experience. Savion Williams could use it to turn into more of a rotational player.

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However, even with those guys redshirting, the Vols still have redshirt senior Emmit Gooden returning from his season-ending injury. Senior Aubrey Solomon is now the most proven defensive tackle a year after transferring from the Michigan Wolverines. Meanwhile, redshirt sophomores Greg Emerson and Kurrott Garland have proven themselves to be rising stars.

Then there’s senior Darel Middleton, who was a junior college transfer like Williams last year. If Middleton plays, he will be a part of this rotation. However, he could fall behind Gooden, Solomon and even Emerson. As a result, his play could be limited as a senior despite his proven production, largely thanks to his size at 6’7″ 305 pounds.

On top of that, Middleton has the legal issue that plagued him back in February. Similar to Tim Jordan, he’s going to want to put that behind him before playing. That hanging over him plus having to split time with so many other guys could limit his reps this year, meaning a redshirt would work wonders for him. That issue already has us questioning his playing status for 2020.

Because of that, Middleton should redshirt. If he and Williams both do it, Tennessee football could have them starting at defensive tackle together as seniors with tons of experience while Emerson and Garland, and maybe even redshirt sophomore Kingston Harris, remain in the rotation.