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Tennessee football’s top 10 position battles for fall camp 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Kamal Hadden (13) and defensive back Trevon Flowers (1) celebrate during the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Kamal Hadden (13) and defensive back Trevon Flowers (1) celebrate during the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee defensive lineman Da’Jon Terry participates in a drill during Tennessee football spring practice at University of Tennessee, Thursday, March 24, 2022.Volspractice0324 1041
Tennessee defensive lineman Da’Jon Terry participates in a drill during Tennessee football spring practice at University of Tennessee, Thursday, March 24, 2022.Volspractice0324 1041 /

7. Defensive tackle

Another race that took place in the spring, this involved defensive tackle and that one defensive end spot on the line where players could line up in the middle. However, now it’s just a pure defensive tackle race for Tennessee football. That’s because the defensive end race is one on its own, which we’ll get to soon.

Anyway, in terms of tackle, Omari Thomas is the one returning starter to offset the departure of Matthew Butler. Da’Jon Terry is the main other returning contributor, but he’s now got a battle with Elijah Simmons since Simmons is now healthy and has trimmed down 10 pounds.

Then you’ve got a race to replace Butler’s role specifically. That’s where LaTrell Bumphus and Kurott Garland come in. Both players have experience with the Vols that predates Josh Heupel and Tim Banks, most notably in 2019, when Bumphus was an edge rusher and Garland emerged as a solid defensive tackle.

Entering this year, Bumphus has more versatility, but Garland could help bring more size to the spot. Add in newcomer Tyre West, and UT will have an interesting race in the middle. Bryson Eason and Jordan Thomas are there too.

It’s likely West, Eason and Thomas play one role, Bumphus, Garland and Thomas play another and Terry and Simmons play a third, but only two of those guys would be on the field at a time.

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