KNOXVILLE -- With Tennessee set to start spring football practice Tuesday, the Times Free Press is taking a position-by-position look at the Volunteers as they prepare for the 2015 season. After looking at the defensive line on Friday, the preview continues today with the linebackers.
WHO'S BACK
* Jalen Reeves-Maybin (Jr.): After he was Tennessee's best special-teams player as a freshman in 2013, Reeves-Maybin translated his difference-making to the defense, where he thrived as a first-year starter. The budding star made 106 tackles to share the team lead and chipped in 11 tackles for loss, two sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception. Reeves-Maybin made a career-high 13 tackles in the TaxSlayer Bowl.
More spring practice previews
* Quarterbacks * Running backs* Wide receivers* Tight ends* Offensive line* Defensive line
* Chris Weatherd (Sr.): His late arrival from junior college didn't prohibit Tennessee from finding a way to get the super-athletic Weatherd on the field. The Vols created a 3-3-5 package in which he replaced a defensive tackle and often used his speed to rush off the edge. In the specified role, Weatherd finished with 12 tackles, three for loss and 2.5 sacks.
* Cortez McDowell (So.): The four-star safety recruit switched to linebacker and led Tennessee in special-teams tackles last season. McDowell made 19 tackles as a freshman in 2014, and 14 of those came on coverage units.
* Kenny Bynum (R-Jr.): In nearly three full years with the Vols, Bynum appeared in just 10 games before starting and playing pretty well at middle linebacker in the TaxSlayer Bowl. At 6-foot-1 and 243 pounds, Bynum doesn't give the Vols their biggest option for that spot. His familiarity with the defense, though, is his advantage.
* Jakob Johnson (So.): The German-born Johnson played just his second year of football in America last season and spent some time at defensive end before settling in at linebacker and also contributing on special teams. He started the final two games of the regular season, making five stops.
* Dillon Bates (R-Fr.): The son of former Tennessee safety Bill Bates had his freshman season cut short after four games by a torn labrum that required surgery. He did receive a medical redshirt, though. He'll be in the mix at middle linebacker.
* Elliott Berry (So.): One of the two Berry twins, Elliott carved out a role as a special teamer and defensive backup and played in nine games as a freshman in 2014.
* Gavin Bryant (R-Fr.): The 6-foot, 236-pounder from Alabama spent his freshman season redshirting, which gave him a chance to add strength and get comfortable in Tennessee's defense.
WHO'S GONE
* An outstanding career came to an unfortunate end for A.J. Johnson, who was set to become the first player to lead Tennessee in tackles in three consecutive seasons when he was suspended with two regular-season games left amid a police investigation into an alleged rape. After his indictment by a grand jury, Johnson and former teammate Michael Williams pled not guilty to two charges of rape each during their arraignment earlier this month. Their trial is set for August.
This Sept. 13, 2014, file photo shows Tennessee linebacker A.J. Johnson (45) during an NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Oklahoma in Norman, Okla. * As a third-year sophomore, Justin King played in every game last season as a reserve, but the one-time tight end and wildcat quarterback for the Vols will transfer.
WHO'S NEW
* Darrin Kirkland Jr., a four-star prospect from Indiana, enrolled in January, but the 6-2, 235-pounder, a potential early-impact freshman, will be sidelined this spring after tearing a pectoral muscle during an offseason workout.
WHO'S COMING
* The Vols went to the Atlanta area to land a couple of high-upside prospects in Quart'e Sapp, a rangy, athletic outside linebacker, and Austin Smith, who helped powerhouse Buford win multiple state championships in his career.
DID YOU KNOW?
Reeves-Maybin finished eighth in the SEC in tackles last season. In the last 10 seasons, only 11 sophomores managed to finish in the top 10 in the SEC in tackles, and that list includes A.J. Johnson, who led the SEC in tackles in 2012, and eventual NFL linebackers such as Brandon Spikes, Rolando McClain, Wesley Woodyard and Rennie Curran. Reeves-Maybin and Missouri's Michael Scherer last season became the eighth and ninth SEC sophomores to record 100-tackle seasons since 2004.
KEY QUESTION
How does Tennessee go about replacing the production void left by A.J. Johnson? Reeves-Maybin undoubtedly is poised to fill his role as the defense's emotional leader, one the likable rising junior will do an excellent job filling. Replacing the 425 tackles -- the second-most in a career in program history -- will be the more difficult task.
The competition at the second linebacker spot -- or third if it's the Vols' 4-3 set, in which defensive end Curt Maggitt will man one of the outside spots -- will be one of bigger storylines of this spring. Tennessee won't be able to evaluate all of its options, though. The promising Kirkland is out, and Jakob Johnson is expected to be limited after shoulder surgery.
Bynum probably will begin the spring as the first-teamer. Bates is the most intriguing option based on what he showed, both physically with his ability and mentally with his knowledge of the game, before his injury last season. Bryant will get some looks as well, and it'll be worth watching to see if he can carve out a contributing role.
ONE TO WATCH
Among Bates, McDowell and Weatherd, the Vols have some nice second-year linebackers at their disposal. Bates figures to be very much in the mix at middle linebacker, and McDowell appears to be following Reeves-Maybin's trajectory after the converted safety was Tennessee's top special-teams player as a freshman last season. Both appear to have bright futures.
The pick here, though, is Weatherd, simply because of his talent. The junior college transfer was on campus less than two months before his debut, but the Vols still managed to find a way to get one of their faster, more athletic defenders on the field. Weatherd's production wasn't overwhelming, but his ability and potential stood out when he was on the field.
So what's next for Weatherd? The 6-4, 225-pounder from Texas may be in line for an expanded role if he can become more comfortable with a larger part of the defense, or the Vols may elect to keep him in the role he played last season and maximize him there.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.