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Evaluating Tennessee football’s 2023 class at dead period: Edge rushers

By Caleb Calhoun

The Tennessee football team runs through the T during a NCAA football game against Tennessee Tech at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.Kns Tennessee Tenn Tech Football
The Tennessee football team runs through the T during a NCAA football game against Tennessee Tech at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.Kns Tennessee Tenn Tech Football /
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Tennessee’s Byron Young is seen at Tennessee football spring practice at University of Tennessee, Thursday, March 24, 2022.Volspractice0324 0850
Tennessee’s Byron Young is seen at Tennessee football spring practice at University of Tennessee, Thursday, March 24, 2022.Volspractice0324 0850 /

Edge rushers on roster who will still be eligible in 2023

Byron Young (Senior)

Roman Harrison (Senior)

Tyler Baron (Junior)

Joshua Josephs (Freshman)

James Pearce Jr. (Freshman)

As mentioned on the opening slide, Byron Young is a senior who could leave early if he matches his incredible performance last year, which came during shortened action since he missed the past two games. However, even if he is gone, Tennessee football will be fine with Roman Harrison and Tyler Baron as their two edge rushers the next year.

Joshua Josephs and James Pearce Jr. are listed as defensive linemen on the roster right now, but both were commitments in the 2022 recruiting class, and given their sizes, it’s clear that edge rusher is what they’ll be playing. That puts them on here too.

Taking that into account, UT is set regardless of what happens to be able to go two-deep with two edge rusher starting in 2023, and they actually would be close in 2024. After all, Tyler Baron will at least be eligible through 2024 since 2020 didn’t count against him.

Now, Heupel would obviously want to add more depth by then, but it’s pretty clear the Vols will have a group of experienced edge rushers at this level who will provide them with enough bodies to make an impact over the next three years. That’s a good situation to be in going forward.

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