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Evaluating Tennessee football’s 2023 class at dead period: DL

By Caleb Calhoun

Greenbrier's Nathan Robinson grabs a hold of the Jersey of Cheatham County QB Cooper Owen on Friday, October 9, 2020.Cheat Gbrier Fb7 Dpc 6375
Greenbrier's Nathan Robinson grabs a hold of the Jersey of Cheatham County QB Cooper Owen on Friday, October 9, 2020.Cheat Gbrier Fb7 Dpc 6375 /
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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 /

Final take

With Tennessee football’s two commitments in this class and what they brought in this past year, Josh Heupel has set the Vols to go three-deep at every defensive tackle role through 2024. The Vols can use their feature defensive tackle with Kurott Garland, Tyre West, Jordan Phillips and Amari McNeill, which actually sets them up there through 2025.

In the hybrid defensive tackle role, Austin Lewis can fill it through 2024, and Dominic Bailey is in the system through 2025. Both commitments plus Jayson Jenkins also fill that role, so the Vols are set there through 2025 as well. This is obviously assuming there are no transfers or early departures to the pros.

Elijah Simmons and Da’Jon Terry have nose tackle locked up for the next two years. Omari Thomas is simply the star, and he could potentially be with the Vols through 2025. Since in a rotation, Tim Banks often uses five guys, he still needs a bit more help. The key would be a pure defensive tackle going forward.

Prediction

Because of the Vols’ need, they won’t pick up Hunter Osborne. Heupel has secured too much talent in that role over the past couple of years. However, they will land junior college transfer Will Whitson. Although Elijah Davis is the more desirable JuCo transfer, Whitson can help.

Next. Projecting Vols' two-deep depth chart for 2022. dark

Signs point to Tennessee football being a favorite to land Whitson, and although he is only 270 pounds, Rodney Garner could help another player or Whitson himself get bigger to add another pure defensive tackle. As a result, Whitson’s commitment will help with depth, so he’ll be a solid pickup with experience in this class.

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