Tennessee football can’t afford to lose these 10 players in 2021
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Senior. player. Linebacker. Juwan Mitchell. 3. 839
6’1″ 226 pounds; Hometown: Newark, N.J.
Yes, we have added a transfer on here. However, there’s no doubt that Tennessee football took its biggest hit in the transfer portal at linebacker. Henry To’o To’o, a rising junior who was the play-caller of the defense the past two years, transferred to the Alabama Crimson Tide. Rising versatile junior Quavaris Crouch transferred to the Michigan State Spartans.
J.J. Peterson and Martavius French also entered the transfer portal. With Solon Page III, Aaron Beasley and Jeremy Banks as the only credible returning linebackers, help here was desperately needed. Josh Heupel sought it by bringing in Texas Longhorns transfer Juwan Mitchell.
The graduate of Mater Dei High School in Middletown Township, N.J., which is in Monmouth County and not Essex County, where he is from, has eight tackles for a loss, three sacks, five pass deflections and a fumble recover over the past two years. He also has 99 tackles, 58 of which were solo, and came away with 62 tackles, 32 of which were solo, last year alone.
Simply put, Mitchell may be UT’s only hope at linebacker. Sure, the position will have fewer players if Tim Banks does switch back to a nickel-based 4-3 scheme. Also, freshman Aaron Willis provides a lot of promise. However, Mitchell is the standout star, and the Vols need him on the field.