Tennessee football’s top 10 injury concerns for 2020

Jeremy Pruitt signed Jahmir Johnson, once from Pennsylvania, out of junior college in his first recruiting class. Johnson was always there to provide depth for Tennessee football while remaining a rotational player, and entering his senior year, that will still be his role. However, there’s no denying that it’s a crucial role, and the 6’5″ 286 pound tackle could be crucial outside.

The problem is that the product of Imhotep High School in Philadelphia, Pa. hasn’t been fully healthy. Lack of consistency played a role in that, as he redshirted when he started college at Rhode Island before spending a year at Arizona Western Community College and then transferring to Rocky Top. In 2018, he started 11 games, but the line was historically bad that season.

Then injuries crept in. Johnson only played in six games with one start. He underwent a procedure on his knee early in the season, and that kept him out of competition in late September and early October, which was around the time Darnell Wright started to emerge as a freshman tackle. His value can’t be understated, though, as he was there for part of the stretch run late in the season.

If he can’t stay healthy this year, Johnson leaves a hole behind Wright and Wanya Morris on the outside. He can also help out at guard, given the fact that’s where he started in 2018, although he is clearly much better at tackle. Either way, UT needs him to be healthy, and the injuries he battled last year make that a concern.