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Tennessee football: Which SEC media picks will be proven right and wrong?

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: Smokey the live Tennessee Volunteers mascot on the sidelines during the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: Smokey the live Tennessee Volunteers mascot on the sidelines during the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee defensive lineman Matthew Butler (94) during the Vol Walk at the Tennessee Spring Game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, April 13, 2019.Kns Vols Springgame5things
Tennessee defensive lineman Matthew Butler (94) during the Vol Walk at the Tennessee Spring Game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, April 13, 2019.Kns Vols Springgame5things /

8. WRONG: No All-SEC defensive linemen

Although Tennessee football won’t have any defensive players earn first-team All-SEC, the Vols will still have some All-SEC defensive players. One area the media will be proven wrong on is the defensive line. To be fair, none of these guys were proven enough to earn preseason All-SEC, but this is something that will be on display throughout the year.

Sure, Greg Emerson and Darel Middleton transferred in the offseason. However, that’s because Aubrey Solomon and Kurrott Garland have emerged in the middle, and Elijah Simmons is starting to prove himself as well.

On the edge, Matthew Butler and LaTrell Bumphus have been elite producers when healthy. This will be Bumphus’ first year starting at 100 percent with actual experience playing on the line, so he could have a breakout campaign. Solomon, Butler, Bumphus and Ja’Quain Blakely are all seniors looking to prove their abilities, and one of them is bound to step up.

Finally, as we said, Tim Banks is switching from a 3-4 to a nickel-heavy 4-3. That means a much greater reliance on the defensive line to make plays and not just get a push, so they’ll stand out more. Just by racking up more stats, one of them will earn All-SEC.

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