All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football: 10 Vols who should redshirt for 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver Ramel Keyton (80) celebrates Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman's (85) touchdown during a game between University of Tennessee and Chattanooga at Neyland Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019.Utvschattanooga0914 0625
Tennessee wide receiver Ramel Keyton (80) celebrates Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman's (85) touchdown during a game between University of Tennessee and Chattanooga at Neyland Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019.Utvschattanooga0914 0625 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 10
Next
Tennessee linebacker Aaron Beasley (24) is all smiles after making a defensive stop 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
Tennessee linebacker Aaron Beasley (24) is all smiles after making a defensive stop 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 /

Senior. 8. player. 839. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Aaron Beasley. Linebacker

Other players returning at linebacker for Tennessee football will likely diminish Aaron Beasley’s role. A redshirt will keep him from wasting a year of eligibility.

Yes, he emerged as a starter last year at linebacker for Tennessee football despite being converted from a safety, which he committed as out of Georgia in 2019. Aaron Beasley was also productive on paper, registering seven and a half tackles for a loss, one and a half sacks, two fumble recoveries and 84 total tackles, 34 of which were solo.

Another year brings a lot of promise. However, the 6’1″ 225-pound graduate of Heard County High School in Franklin, Ga., had among the lowest PFF regular season grades of anybody who played defense last year. Striking the balance of being an attacking linebacker and also containing quarterbacks was an issue for all three in the rotation.

Jeremy Banks, though, produced at such a high level that he’ll still be a regular starter. Solon Page III is in his final year of eligibility. That means Beasley stands to gain the most by redshirting, developing more in the system and coming back with more time to himself in 2023.

Add in the fact that Juwan Mitchell is fully healthy and likely in his final year of eligibility, and it’s beyond clear that Beasley is the one who should take the redshirt. If an injury hits, that’ll chance things, but he could come back next year with two seasons to be a full-time starter.

Home/Vols Football