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Tennessee football: Ranking position groups by 2022 spring practice play

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee defensive players perform drills during Tennessee football spring practice at University of Tennessee on Saturday, March 26, 2022.Kns Ut Spring Fball 5 0532
Tennessee defensive players perform drills during Tennessee football spring practice at University of Tennessee on Saturday, March 26, 2022.Kns Ut Spring Fball 5 0532 /
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Tennessee linebacker Juwan Mitchell (10) during Tennessee football spring practice at Haslam Field in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, April 5, 2022.Kns Ut Spring Fball 10
Tennessee linebacker Juwan Mitchell (10) during Tennessee football spring practice at Haslam Field in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, April 5, 2022.Kns Ut Spring Fball 10 /

7. Linebacker

Jeremy Banks, Aaron Beasley and Solon Page III had the three lowest PFF grades in the regular season last year for Tennessee football’s defense, and they were the three rotational linebackers. Banks was the most productive player on defense in terms of raw stats, leading the team in tackles and tying for the lead in tackles for a loss and sacks.

However, at issue was quarterback containment. All three guys had problems in coverage, and that’s what this spring needed to be about. There was excitement about Juwan Mitchell getting healthy, to be fair, and true freshman Elijah Herring was a specific standout, scoring a touchdown in the open scrimmage.

When you take into account Brian Jean-Mary saying Nebraska Cornhuskers transfer Jackson Hannah has been a pleasant surprise, this unit seems okay. It’s the first one on the list that we can’t say anything negative about, and with it down at No. 7, it shows that the overall position units were solid this spring.

The lack of emergence from William Mohan, who transferred from the Michigan Wolverines last year, is a bit of an issue for Tennessee football. Also, there was no talk of the development of the returners or Mitchell standing out. Those things kept it down here.

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