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Tennessee football’s 15 safest starting spots on 2022 roster in fall camp

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) hands the ball off to Tennessee running back Jabari Small (2) during a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.Kns Tennessee Florida Football
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) hands the ball off to Tennessee running back Jabari Small (2) during a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.Kns Tennessee Florida Football /
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Tennessee’s Omari Thomas (21) drills during Tennessee football’s third practice at Anderson Training Facility in Knoxville, Tenn. on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022.Kns Tennessee Football Third Practice
Tennessee’s Omari Thomas (21) drills during Tennessee football’s third practice at Anderson Training Facility in Knoxville, Tenn. on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022.Kns Tennessee Football Third Practice /

player. 839. Scouting Report. Defensive tackle. Junior. Pick Analysis. Omari Thomas. 14

6’4″ 320 pounds

The only full-time defensive tackle in the rotation for Tennessee football last year with Matthew Butler, at least specifically in the middle. Omari Thomas shared time with Da’Jon Terry and Elijah Simmons, and both are back this year, now fully healthy. Even with Butler gone, LaTrell Bumphus and Kurott Garland are also fully healthy.

Add in newcomers Tyre West and Jordan Phillips along with returning lineman Bryson Eason, and Thomas has a good bit of competition to be a starter. However, he was effectively a starter down the stretch of last season, as he was the only other defensive tackle to play over 300 snaps last year. That means he’s a pretty safe starter.

Thomas’ five tackles for a loss, four forced fumbles and four pass deflections combined with his size at 320 pounds make him the ideal candidate to lock up one of the defensive tackle spots, and it seems pretty clear that’s what he’s going to do. He showed his promise.

Still, he’s down at No. 14 because it’s debatable whether or not he could actually be considered a returning starter, and the number of guys competing for playing time here is pretty high. Tim Banks and Rodney Garner run a deep rotation, but that won’t be without Thomas as a staple.

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