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Tennessee football’s top 10 returning underclassmen in 2022 spring practice

By Caleb Calhoun

Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jaylen Wright (20) celebrates the touchdown of running back Jabari Small (2) against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jaylen Wright (20) celebrates the touchdown of running back Jabari Small (2) against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee linebacker Tyler Baron (9) celebrates after a play during a game against Pittsburgh at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.Kns Tennessee Pittsburgh Football
Tennessee linebacker Tyler Baron (9) celebrates after a play during a game against Pittsburgh at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.Kns Tennessee Pittsburgh Football /

Defensive end. Junior. Tyler Baron. Pick Analysis. 2. player. 839. Scouting Report

6’5″ 260 pounds

Last year, Tyler Baron entered the season as Tennessee football’s premiere edge rusher. The departures of Deandre Johnson and Kivon Bennett transferring out. The graduate of Knoxville Catholic High School in Knox County, Tenn., was teammates with both Cade Mays and Cooper Mays and committed to UT in 2020 with tons of hype.

That season, he showed promise as a reserve with three tackles for a loss, a sack and 21 total tackles, 13 of which were solo. Through the first three games of 2021, he looked on the verge of becoming a breakout superstar with four tackles for a loss, one and a half sacks, a pass deflection and nine tackles, three of which were solo.

Then Byron Young emerged. The junior college transfer became the premiere edge rusher, and Baron saw his productivity decrease. Still, he finished with seven tackles for a loss, four sacks, a pass deflection and 30 tackles, eight of which were solo, so the production was there.

In the offseason, he entered the transfer portal but withdrew his name. Despite the up and down trajectory so far, Baron is still an elite edge rusher, and with Caleb Tremblay and Ja’Quain Blakely both gone, there’s a greater need for them, as either Baron or Young could play on the line. As a result, he should still be an elite underclassman this year.

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