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Tennessee football: Projecting two-deep depth chart for 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) hands the ball off to Tennessee running back Jabari Small (2) during an SEC conference game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021.Kns Tennessee Vanderbilt Football
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) hands the ball off to Tennessee running back Jabari Small (2) during an SEC conference game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021.Kns Tennessee Vanderbilt Football /
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Tennessee linebacker Juwan Mitchell (10) walks off the field during a game against Pittsburgh at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.Kns Tennessee Pittsburgh Football
Tennessee linebacker Juwan Mitchell (10) walks off the field during a game against Pittsburgh at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.Kns Tennessee Pittsburgh Football /

MIKE linebacker

1. Juwan Mitchell

He battled injuries all of last year, but it’s pretty clear that when healthy, Juwan Mitchell is Tennessee football’s best linebacker. The Vols struggled severely when it came to containment down the stretch of the season without him. Remember, expectations were for him to be an immediate star after transferring from the Texas Longhorns.

In two years at Texas, Mitchell had eight tackles for a loss and three sacks. If he can get back to his regular self, he’d immediately be the best linebacker on the Vols once again. Assuming that’s the case, he’s going to take back a starting job he should have had last year.

2. Aaron Beasley

There’s a reason Aaron Beasley was once a defensive back. He struggled in containment like all the linebackers last year, but he had to be one of the two starters. Still, Beasley produced in certain ways, as he had seven and a half tackles for a loss, one and a half sacks, two fumble recoveries and 84 tackles, 34 of which were solo.

This year, he’ll move back to a rotational linebacker. That’ll be fine for him, though, as he can learn more playing behind Mitchell and can burst onto the scene his final year of eligibility, 2023, as a much more effective player.

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