Tennessee football’s top five true freshmen most likely to play in 2022

As a defensive end who can play in the middle, Jayson Jenkins plays a role where Tennessee football lost its two key rotational players from last year.

Yes, the trenches is where Tennessee football has lots of true freshmen who could see a good bit of action. Once again, we go to a player on this list, but the profile of Jayson Jenkins as a defensive lineman is different than that of Tyre West. It’s one that dramatically increases his chances of seeing the field this year.

Jenkins, given his size, is more of that hybrid defensive tackle who would play on the end when Tim Banks is running his standard 4-3 but then could line up as the second defensive tackle with three down linemen. That’s a role that Caleb Tremblay and Ja’Quain Blakely occupied for the Vols last year. Both have since gone.

UT has other options to fill that void, as they added transfer Austin Lewis, and Dominic Bailey has been in the program for a while. However, those two and Jenkins are the three most likely players to occupy the role, and since there were two rotational players in it last year while every spot is open, Jenkins has a great chance to play.

Despite the lack of recruiting hype, the need is what puts Jenkins here. It’s possible Banks goes with two edge rushers at each spot, in which case Tyler Baron would occupy the role Jenkins is fighting for. However, there’s still a chance Jenkins is that guy, putting him on here.