Tennessee football: Top 10 in-state Vols on 2020 roster

Hometown: Savannah, Tenn.

Last year, LaTrell Bumphus was part of a solid three-man rotation at the defensive end spot on the line with Matthew Butler and Ja’Quain Blakely. John Mincey was a fourth guy to provide depth. It was also his first year playing defensive end, as he joined Tennessee football out of Hardin County High School initially expecting to play tight end.

However, in just one year playing the position by committee, Bumphus had six tackles for a loss and two sacks. At 6’3″ 286 pounds, he proved he could be elite at the position, and his potential entering this year is through the roof. However, we have called for him to take a redshirt this year, as he would then have all of the 2021 season to himself while he further developed in this role.

If he doesn’t, though, Bumphus will be one of the best players from one of the southwestern portions of the state just east of the Tennessee River. He’s expected to be a major contributor once again, and there’s a chance he wreaks havoc on offenses with the blitz packages Jeremy Pruitt and Derrick Ansley love to run at different times.

While Butler and Blakely help Pruitt build his pipeline into North Carolina and Georgia respectively, Bumphus keeps his pipeline and his stronghold over West Tennessee. Because of that, he should find ways to maximize Bumphus’ production. That’s an area UT desperately needs to control on the recruiting front if it is going to reach elite status.