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Tennessee football: Ranking position groups in Vols’ 2022 recruiting class with grades

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Riverdale’s Elijah Herring (31) gets in position during Friday’s win over Siegel.Elijah Herring 31
Riverdale’s Elijah Herring (31) gets in position during Friday’s win over Siegel.Elijah Herring 31 /

7. Linebacker: D+

In terms of bodies, linebacker is not in that bad of shape. However, Tennessee football has a talent deficiency here, and that’s why Josh Heupel needed to upgrade the position. Jermey Banks was the Vols’ top statistical producer, but he had the same issue Aaron Beasley and Solon Page III had this past year. None of them can get off blocks and contain quarterbacks.

The 2022 recruiting class should have addressed that, but there are just two commitments at the position, Elijah Herring and Kalib Perry. Both of them are three-stars across the board, so neither at least has the raw talent to be able to offset the issues at the position.

Now, one reason this is a higher below average grade than the secondary is the bodies on the roster right now. Nobody was lost at linebacker, and Texas Longhorns transfer Juwan Mitchell should be back from a season-ending injury this past year. Michigan Wolverines transfer William Mohan and last year’s prized recruit, Aaron Willis, should be more valuable as well.

All of those guys should be enough for Tim Banks to find a couple of standouts in his nickel-based 4-2-5 scheme. Still, based on the performances last year and the future needs at the position, recruiting here could have gone better for Rocky Top.

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