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Tennessee football 2022 LB preview: Everybody’s back, but is that good?

By Caleb Calhoun

Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Solon Page III (38) runs onto the field against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Solon Page III (38) runs onto the field against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 27, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Aaron Beasley (24) and linebacker Jeremy Banks (33) ready to play defense during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Aaron Beasley (24) and linebacker Jeremy Banks (33) ready to play defense during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /

Starters returning at LB

Jeremy Banks

  • 6’1″ 224 pounds
  • Redshirt senior
  • Cordova, Tenn. (Cordova High School)

Talk about a breakout story. Jeremy Banks committed to Tennessee football as a running back in 2018 and converted to linebacker before being dismissed. He rejoined the team in 2020 and had to undergo a system change in 2021. Amidst all the transfers, he became UT’s main linebacker, and his production went through the roof.

Banks finished last year with 128 tackles, 59 of which were solo, and in both stats, he led all SEC linebackers returning for this year. His 11.5 tackles for a loss was top five among all SEC linebackers returning, and he also had five and a half sacks, an interception and four pass deflections. Now, his 52.9 PFF regular season grade is a concern, but he’s clearly a playmaker.

Aaron Beasley

  • 6’1″ 225 pounds
  • Senior
  • Franklin, Ga. (Heard County High School)

Like Banks, Aaron Beasley is a converted player, as he moved from safety to linebacker, and he eve missed spring practice last year while picking up the system. However, he emerged as the other main starter with the Vols at the position, and despite also a low PFF regular season grade of 53, that was the highest of the main contributors.

Beasley finished with seven and a half tackles for a loss, one and a half sacks, two fumble recoveries and 84 tackles, 34 of which were solo. He brings the best coverage experience to the position of anybody with Tennessee football, but that’s still something he’s got to improve upon.

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