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Tennessee football: Top 10 breakout Vols from 2021 season

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 2, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Bowling Green Falcons during the first quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Bowling Green Falcons during the first quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Ja’Quain Blakely (48) before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers during the 2021 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Ja’Quain Blakely (48) before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers during the 2021 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Pick Analysis. 2. player. 839. Scouting Report. Defensive lineman. Redshirt senior. Ja'Quain Blakely

6’2″ 270 pounds

At the beginning of the year, Tennessee football seemed loaded with experience on the defensive line. Ja’Quain Blakely joined Matthew Butler, LaTrell Bumphus and Aubrey Solomon as returning seniors up front, and the latter three all had more experience and production in their careers than Blakely. However, Bumphus and Solomon were limited the whole season.

That left things open for other guys, most notably Blakely, Omari Thomas and Elijah Simmons. Like Bumphus, Simmons battled injuries throughout the year, so he didn’t take a major leap forward either. Bringing it down to Thomas and Blakely, it’s clear who took the major leap.

Thomas went from 10 tackles to 18 tackles and seven solo tackles to 10 solo tackles. Now, his big plays increased dramatically, as he forced four fumbles and had five tackles for a loss this year, up from 0 and one last year, and he had a sack and four pass deflections, both of which he had none of last year. Still, Blakely edges him out.

After a total of 13 tackles and eight solo tackles, two tackles for a loss and two sacks in four years before his final year of eligibility, Blakely exploded to 29 tackles, nine solo tackles, five tackles for a loss and one and a half sacks this past year. He also had three pass deflections. While Thomas broke out in more big plays, Blakely was clearly the breakout star in overall production.

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