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Evaluating Tennessee football’s 2021 LB class at dead period

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 18: Detail view of footballs lined up on the field before the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won 31-17. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 18: Detail view of footballs lined up on the field before the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won 31-17. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images
Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images /

Here is a look at the linebacker position in the Tennessee football Volunteers’ 2021 class.

After losing Darrell Taylor on the inside and Daniel Bituli on the outside, Tennessee football is beginning a new era at linebacker. Heading into 2020, the only certain player at that position for the Vols is Henry To’o To’o, who started all of last year as a freshman.

When it comes to linebacker, there is a hybrid between two and three spots we would consider linebacker and not edge rusher or defensive lineman. Given the way Jeremy Pruitt’s and Derrick Ansley’s 3-4 system works, they often times run a 4-2-5.

As a result, Tennessee football only has two guys in a depth chart who could firmly be considered linebackers, the inside linebackers. Pruitt has been focusing his recruiting in recent years on guys who could play all four positions, but that’s the bread and butter.

To’o To’o is one of the first guys who could play all four spots. Quavaris Crouch is an elite rising sophomore who can do it as well. J.J. Peterson, Solon Page III also fit the mold of non-edge rushing linebackers, so there’s depth for this year. What about the future, though? Well, in this post, we’re going to evaluate where the Vols’ 2021 recruiting class stands at linebacker.

In his 2021 class, Pruitt added three four-stars from Whitehaven High School in Memphis, two of whom are firmly linebackers in Bryson Eason and Martavius French and another of whom could play edge rusher in Tamarion McDonald. Three-star athlete Len’Neth Whitehead could also potentially play the position.

Just like our other posts, we’re going to break this list down by commitments, top prospects, other potential prospects and prospects not yet offered. We’ll close with a final take on the overall situation and a prediction.

This recruiting evaluation during a dead period is getting more intriguing given the fact that the pandemic is putting the season in question. But let’s go ahead and get continue breaking down what we can anyway. Here’s a look at the linebackers in Tennessee football’s 2021 recruiting class during the dead period.

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