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Tennessee football’s five 2022 signees most likely to play early

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee mascot Smokey on the sidelines during the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Bowling Green Falcons in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, September 2, 2021.Ut Bowling Green
Tennessee mascot Smokey on the sidelines during the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Bowling Green Falcons in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, September 2, 2021.Ut Bowling Green /
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A military flyover passers over Neyland Stadium before an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football
A military flyover passers over Neyland Stadium before an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football /

Although Josh Heupel’s second recruiting class for Tennessee football and his first full class wasn’t in the top 10 on any service, it almost perfectly addressed the needs of the program given the recent departures. UT has a ton of talent returning, but it did lose some guys, and the losses are where Heupel brought in some of the best talent.

As we get set to look at which members of the Vols’ 2022 recruiting class are most likely to play immediately, we’ll take both things into account. Yes, need and player profile are crucial, but ratings have to be a factor as well. Raw talent does increase the likelihood of freshmen playing.

Of the 21 members in UT’s class, 11 are at a position that lost a starter from this past season. Not all of those players are in the best position to play immediately, though. Let’s break down who is and why. These are the five signees in Tennessee football’s 2022 recruiting class who are most likely to play early.

Defensive lineman. 839. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 5. player. Trenton, N.J. Jayson Jenkins

Notre Dame High School

As the only player on this list who has no experience playing at the college level and is not a four-star on any service, it makes sense that Jayson Jenkins would be No. 5 on here. However, the product of Mercer County who went to school in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of New Jersey’s Lawrence Township plays at the position that loses the most talent.

Jenkins’ unique frame also makes him key. Despite his low rating, he stands between 6’5″ and 6’6″ and weighs in the range of 250 to 260 pounds. It’s likely he puts on weight in college, but he’ll be a hybrid defensive lineman, and that’s one key need for Heupel and the Vols this upcoming year.

Both Ja’Quain Blakely and Caleb Tremblay filled the hybrid defensive linemen in Tim Banks’ system, and they are now gone. As a result, despite his low rating, Rodney Garner may find a spot for Jenkins pretty early, as he appears to be the one guy on Tennessee football’s roster likely capable of being able to play on the inside or the outside.

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