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Tennessee football: Five ways 2022 SEC preseason poll grossly disrespects Vols

By Caleb Calhoun

Smokey runs the end zone after a touchdown during the Tennessee Volunteers' game against Alabama in Neyland Stadium on Saturday, October 20, 2018.Kns Utvsbamafootball Bp Jpg
Smokey runs the end zone after a touchdown during the Tennessee Volunteers' game against Alabama in Neyland Stadium on Saturday, October 20, 2018.Kns Utvsbamafootball Bp Jpg /
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Nov 20, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jeremy Banks (33) plays defense during the first half against the South Alabama Jaguars at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jeremy Banks (33) plays defense during the first half against the South Alabama Jaguars at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Jeremy Banks third team All-SEC

I get. Jeremy Banks’ PFF regular season grade last year was 52.9. However, he was learning a new system at linebacker, and Tennessee football’s other two linebackers who played at least 100 snaps, Aaron Beasley and Solon Page III, had a score of 53 and 50.6 respectively. As a result, Banks wasn’t playing with a lot of help.

As more of a physical linebacker, Banks performed his job admirably. He finished second in the league with tackles (138), fourth in solo tackles (59) and 15th in tackles for a loss (11.5). That makes him first among all returning SEC players this year in tackles, second in solo tackles but first among linebackers and tied for fifth in tackles for a loss tackles but fourth among linebackers.

Given the fact that each All-SEC team has three linebackers, there’s no way you can keep Banks from at least being second team. Okay, Will Anderson Jr. of the Alabama Crimson Tide is the best linebacker in the nation. That’s fair. Brenton Cox Jr. of the Florida Gators and even Anfernee Orji of the Vanderbilt Commodores also have a case.

Beyond that, Derick Hall of the Auburn Tigers is the only player with a case, and edge rushers were placed as defensive linemen on these teams. As a result, there’s no way Banks shouldn’t have been higher, and keeping him on third team was the ultimate sign of disrespect.

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