Could Tennessee football start two edge rushers this year?

Last year, Tyler Baron was the main edge rusher entering the year for Tennessee football, but then Byron Young emerged and really took the role over. Young finished with 11.5 tackles for a loss and five and a half sacks. Still, Baron was productive, grabbing seven tackles for a loss and four sacks.

Heading into this year, it’s been assumed that they were in competition, along with Roman Harrison, for that starting edge rusher spot, which still existed after Tim Banks switched to a nickel-heavy 4-3 base defense from Jeremy Pruitt’s 3-4. However, that role may increase.

Last year, Banks would start an edge rusher and then what we might consider a defensive end, although he was a hybrid defensive tackle, on either side in his 4-3. Ja’Quain Blakely and Caleb Tremblay split time occupying the other role.

However, Tremblay and Blakely are both gone. While Dominic Bailey, transfer Austin Lewis and true freshman Jayson Jenkins all have the profile to fill that void, there are some signs pointing to one of the other edge rushers starting alongside Young.

When speaking with the media Wednesday about the situation, outside linebackers coach Mike Ekeler spoke on both of the freshman edge rushers, Joshua Josephs and James Pearce. He said they may go even deeper on what’s known as the leo spot depending on how those freshmen develop. Here’s his exact quote.

"“Shoot, as we get going, there might be four of them. Those guys, the sky is the limit. And again, really it’s on them, it’s on me to get them ready.”"

Based on that fact, it appears as if Banks, Ekeler and Rodney Garner are looking to use edge rushers on either side. Given how unproven the players who have the profile to fill the void left by Blakely and Tremblay are at this point, that could make sense.

Remember, while Young was the star last year, Baron was the star entering the year. Also, Harrison was the star in spring ball. We should mention that Harrison had three and a half tackles for a loss, a sack and 33 tackles last year, 18 of which were solo.

As a result, Tennessee football already have three guys who could be in a rotation at the position. Is it crazy to think they could use two on the field at the same time? If they did, then the principle of their scheme wouldn’t be that different from the 3-4 Pruitt ran.

Either way, UT has enough elite edge rushers to wreak havoc on opposing defenses, and Young himself is a potential All-American. Another such edge rusher on the other side as the primary starter could go a long way towards solving the Vols’ other issue last year.

Inside linebackers and safeties struggled with quarterback containment. There won’t be as much pressure on them, though, if there’s sufficient pressure coming from both sides. That’s where the huge advantage of two edge rushers comes into play.

It’s still unclear what will happen, and maybe Bailey, Lewis or Jenkins will emerge for Tennessee football. One, maybe two of those guys is at least likely to see some action with them. However, how the first-team depsh