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Tennessee football’s five options to replace Caleb Tremblay and Ja’Quain Blakely

By Caleb Calhoun

Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Ja'Quain Blakely (48) before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers during the 2021 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Ja'Quain Blakely (48) before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers during the 2021 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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One of the underrated positions for Tennessee football in Tim Banks’ system last year was the versatile defensive tackle. In his nickel-heavy 4-3 base defense, this is a guy who seems to be a bit undersized to play in the middle but can line up there or at end. Both Caleb Tremblay and Ja’Quain Blakely filled that role in a rotation.

Tremblay, standing at 6’5″ 280 pounds, had four and a half tackles for a loss, one and a half sacks and 18 total tackles, six of which were solo. Blakely, at 6’2″ 270 pounds, had five tackles for a loss, one and a half sacks, three pass deflections and 29 total tackles, nine of which were solo.

Now, though, both are gone. Tennessee football has multiple players who fit this profile who can replace them, but none have experience at this level. Josh Heupel signed two recruits and one transfer, and there are two other returning players, all of whom can fill the void. Let’s look at who among them are the best choices to fill these voids.

These are the Tennessee football Volunteers’ five best candidates to play the role of hybrid defensive tackle.

Nov 13, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Power T on the field before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Power T on the field before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /

5. player. 839. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Freshman. 6'2 295 lbs. Jordan Phillips

A member of Tennessee football’s 2022 recruiting class, Jordan Phillips was an early enrollee who could be ready to step in up front.

Initially 300 pounds when he signed with the Vols back in December, Jordan Phillips got down to 295 for spring practice. That suggests the coaches are trying to get him to a point where he can fill one of these voids. He also was one of the first freshmen to meet with the media during the spring, taking questions back in March.

Although he was a three-star across the board, receiving that level of focus and being an early enrollee gives Phillips a great chance to make an early impact this year. Given his size at this point, he appears a bit more locked in to the middle, though, which keeps him down here.

Still, that could change by the fall. Phillips is a guy who could be part of Tennessee football’s rotation replacing Matthew Butler or part of the rotation replacing Tremblay and Blakely. It really depends on how Rodney Garner wants to utilize him, but he’s got a chance to fill the latter void, which puts him on this list.

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