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Evaluating Tennessee football’s 2021 edge rusher class at dead period

By Caleb Calhoun

ATLANTA - DECEMBER 31: Tennessee Volunteers mascot Smokey IX howls during pre-game introductions before the Chick-Fil-A Bowl against the Virginia Tech Hokies at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. Virginia Tech beat Tennessee 37-14. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA - DECEMBER 31: Tennessee Volunteers mascot Smokey IX howls during pre-game introductions before the Chick-Fil-A Bowl against the Virginia Tech Hokies at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. Virginia Tech beat Tennessee 37-14. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /
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Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images
Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images /

Final take

With an elite weakside commitment and two strongside commitments, Tennessee football has eight players in its revolving door of two to three edge rusher positions set to be on the roster still by 2022. That’s a good position to be in.

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However, such a situation only allows for Jeremy Pruitt to go two and a half deep, and those eight players include one listed as a full-time linebacker and another who could end up playing tight end. As a result, the Vols need more help, particularly at weakside defensive end, if they are going to have the depth they need going forward.

Again, Pruitt didn’t lament the lack of depth among edge rushers in multiple interviews for nothing last summer. He said that and then lost his best player among them while standing to lose four more of them after this year.

Because of this, at least two more commitments need to come into the program, and they need to be players who can actually play weakside defensive end, or line up at outside linebacker. Given how Pruitt values size, there is room to allow for that even if they are strongside defensive ends. But it has to happen.

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Prediction

Luckily for Tennessee football, there are multiple hybrid prospects seriously eyeing the Vols right now. Javon Nelson, Khristian Zachary and Demarcus Smith all bring a level of versatility to the position. Only Zachary is listed as a weakside end, but they could all play the role. In our prediction, two of those three will commit. That will be a huge for Pruitt and set UT’s future up here.

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