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Tennessee football’s 10 biggest injury concerns for 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

From left, Tennessee offensive lineman Cooper Mays (63), Head Coach Josh Heupel, quarterback Hendon Hooker (5), and Offensive Analyst Mitch Militello stand before the Pride of the Southland Band as they perform “Tennessee Waltz” after a win in the NCAA college football game between the Tennesse Volunteers and Vanderbilt Commodores in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 27, 2021.Kns Tennessee Vanderbilt Football
From left, Tennessee offensive lineman Cooper Mays (63), Head Coach Josh Heupel, quarterback Hendon Hooker (5), and Offensive Analyst Mitch Militello stand before the Pride of the Southland Band as they perform “Tennessee Waltz” after a win in the NCAA college football game between the Tennesse Volunteers and Vanderbilt Commodores in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 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 /

Linebacker. player. Pick Analysis. Senior. Juwan Mitchell. 4. 839. Scouting Report

6’1″ 235 pounds

When Henry To’o To’o and Quavaris Crouch transferred out, Juwan Mitchell was supposed to be the guy who saved Tennessee football at linebacker. Once a three-star out of New Jersey who want to Butler Community College in Kansas, Mitchell was a transfer from the Texas Longhorns last year and a proven contributor.

However, the graduate of Mater Dei High School in Newark, N.J., battled injuries all last year and could never get it going. He had missed the first couple games in October anyway and then was ruled out for the season after the Vols beat the South Carolina Gamecocks due to shoulder surgery, finishing with just eight tackles and only one of which was solo.

This year, Mitchell would seem to have fallen further down the depth chart, as Jeremy Banks emerged to become Tennessee football’s top stat producer while being the main linebacker. He is back along with the other two rotational guys, Aaron Beasley and Solon Page III.

However, those three had the three lowest PFF regular season grades of anybody who played 100 snaps on defense last year, so there are concerns that Mitchell would be tasked with addressing. Given his injury history, though, that question is up in the air.

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