Tennessee football: Top 15 dark-horse Vols for 2022
Pick Analysis. 2. player. 839. Scouting Report. Defensive lineman. r-Senior. Kurott Garland
6’3″ 310 pounds
Sticking with defensive tackles expected to be second-teamers, Kurott Garland is to Omari Thomas what Bryson Eason would be to LaTrell Bumphus. However, Tennessee football has to go two-deep at both spots, and now fully healthy with Aubrey Solomon gone, Garland could shock the world and actually land the starting role.
In a way, Garland isn’t really a dark-horse guy. Back in 2019, he entered the transfer portal and returned only to become the starter at defensive tackle midway through the season, replacing Greg Emerson. Over the next two seasons, he registered three tackles for a loss and 40 total tackles, 19 of which were solo.
Emerson then transferred out before Josh Heupel’s first season. Last year, due to injuries partly but also the system change, Garland’s production dropped. Still, in fewer than 100 snaps, he registered two tackles for a loss, a sack and 16 total tackles, nine of which were solo.
Taking all of that into account, Garland has a great chance to burst back onto the scene for Tennessee football this year. He’s already proven what he can do at the position, and the field is a bit more clear for him to make an impact. As a result, he shouldn’t even be a dark-horse Vol, but circumstances make him that instead of an expected impact Vol.