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Tennessee football’s top 10 impact players for 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) warming up before the start of an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, September 18, 2021.Utvtech0917
Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) warming up before the start of an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, September 18, 2021.Utvtech0917 /
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Oct 16, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Byron Young (6) on the field during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Byron Young (6) on the field during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /

Byron Young. Pick Analysis. Edge rusher. 3. player. 839. Scouting Report. Senior

6’3″ 245 pounds

The emergence of Byron Young last year is what forced us to explain why Tyler Baron is on this list. Young is Tennessee football’s only unanimous first team All-SEC player for this preseason, and there’s good reason for that. A junior college transfer last year, he wasn’t even able to play until the third game of the season due to an eligibility issue.

A month later, Young was the Vols’ main edge rusher. We mentioned that Jeremy Banks tied for the team lead in sacks and tackles for a loss with five and a half and 11.5 respectively. Well, he tied it with Young despite Young not being a rotational player for a significant portion of the year.

With a full season to himself, expectations for Young to explode make a ton of sense. Obviously, he’ll be the Vols’ most key defensive player. Stopping the pass is their main focus, and that starts with the pressure they can get up front. Young is far and away their best pass rusher.

Given the personnel of this year’s team there’s a chance Baron and Young both start on the ends. They will need help from the defensive tackles with LaTrell Bumphus, Omari Thomas, Elijah Simmons, Kurott Garland and Da’Jon Terry. However, among all those guys up front, Young is the one most destined to have the major impact.

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