Carlin Fils-aime (27) is chased by Daniel Bituli (35) and Deandre Johnson (13). The annual Spring Orange and White Football game was held at Neyland Stadium on April 22, 2017.KNOXVILLE - The projected starters on Tennessee's defensive line bring plenty of intrigue to a team seeking to replace several productive players, but their collective health and readiness is a secondary mystery compared to who's behind them on the depth chart.
First-year Tennessee defensive line coach Brady Hoke said Sunday that he would like to rotate 10 players through the four line positions during games in 2017, meaning a few true freshmen could parlay a strong training camp into meaningful playing time early.
The Volunteers play Georgia Tech in Atlanta's new Mercedes-Benz Dome on Sept. 4, leaving less than a month for the new players to earn one or more of those 10 slots.
"I think there's a couple guys that might be able to," Hoke said. "I'm not talking about 30 snaps. I'm talking about 15 snaps to keep someone healthy or keep fresh people on the field."
Jonathan Kongbo, Darrell Taylor and Kyle Phillips are highly touted returning defensive ends the Vols need to step up this season. There is a noticeable lack of experience behind them on the deph chart.
Fifth-year senior tackle Kendal Vickers leads an interior group that is counting on juniors Shy Tuttle and Khalil McKenzie to return to full health and live up their five-star billings.
After that, all bets are off.
Alexis Johnson and Quay Picou return at defensive tackle and will battle freshmen Kivon Bennett, Matthew Butler and Eric Crosby for spots in the rotation there. Defensive coordinator Bob Shoop said before preseason practice that of the freshmen, "maybe one of those guys could step in and be the fifth tackle."
There is even more opportunity at defensive end for a newcomer like Butler or true freshman Deandre Johnson, who seem to be candidates to crack the rotation.
Hoke said the staff is trying to figure out if Butler is a better fit at tackle or end, but the Garner, N.C., resident has received praise consistently from the coaches so far in preseason practice.
"Him and Kivon Bennett both have done a nice job so far," Hoke said. "But we've got a long way to go. Most freshmen during the course of the season hit a brick wall because of the academics and all those things and responsibilities and the way you practice."
Tennessee had its depth tested last year when several injuries on the defensive line forced reserves into major roles and some players were forced to play out of position.
Hoke wasn't at Tennessee then, but he knows the importance of getting the reserves ready. When they're freshmen, doing that just takes a bit more attention.
"You play a long schedule," Hoke said. "The thing with freshmen is you bring them along a little slow, but at the same time we've got to put as much pressure on them as we can.
"There is also a physicality on a daily basis that they have to be able to play with. This is new for these guys, and even though they were here in the summer it became newer when we put pads on."
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com.