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Tennessee football’s five biggest spring practice position battles for 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel watches during Tennessee football spring practice at University of Tennessee, Thursday, March 24, 2022.Volspractice0324 0901
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel watches during Tennessee football spring practice at University of Tennessee, Thursday, March 24, 2022.Volspractice0324 0901 /
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Tennessee defensive lineman Tyre West participates in a drill during Tennessee football spring practice at University of Tennessee, Thursday, March 24, 2022.Volspractice0324 1166
Tennessee defensive lineman Tyre West participates in a drill during Tennessee football spring practice at University of Tennessee, Thursday, March 24, 2022.Volspractice0324 1166 /

2. Defensive tackle

There was no position in which Tennessee football suffered greater roster turnover this offseason than defensive tackle. Matthew Butler, Ja’Quain Blakely and Caleb Tremblay are all gone. As a result, this is naturally going to be among the biggest offseason position battles.

However, it’s not No. 1 because the most significant position battle will be for the hybrid defensive tackle, a guy who could play in the middle or on the end. Tremblay and Blakely could both play that role. However, the players who could play that aren’t in the system yet. Jayson Jenkins, James Pearce and Joshua Josephs are three commitments expected to fill that void.

With none of those players in for spring practice and all set to arrive during fall camp, the true defensive tackle position in the middle is the one battle worth paying attention to for spring ball. Luckily for the Vols, plenty of guys with experience there are on the roster for the spring.

LaTrell Bumphus is back, Elijah Simmons and Omari Thomas both saw significant action there last year, and Dominic Bailey is still on the roster. Most notably, Jordan Phillips and highly touted recruit Tyre West are among the early enrollees. As a result, this race should be intriguing.

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