Skip to main content
Saturday, November 14, 2026Nov 14

Healthy Shy Tuttle may be top candidate for Vols’ nose tackle

Tennessee junior defensive lineman Shy Tuttle has twice worked through difficult rehabilitation to return from injuries.
Tennessee junior defensive lineman Shy Tuttle has twice worked through difficult rehabilitation to return from injuries.

Defensive line

Who’s new: Freshmen Kingston Harris and Greg Emerson enrolled early and are expected to participate in spring practices. Brant Lawless, Emmit Gooden, John Mincey and Kurrot Garland are expected to join the team this summer.Who’s gone: Kendal Vickers, Kahlil McKenzie

photo Darrell Taylor (19) is playing with a injured right hand. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of Sept. 9, 2017.
photo Tennessee defensive end Kyle Phillips (5) will represent the Volunteers next week at SEC Media Days, along with receiver Marquez Callaway and tight end Eli Wolf.

Editor’s note: This is the third in a series previewing Tennessee football before spring practices begin next Tuesday.

KNOXVILLE – After missing spring practices the last two seasons while rehabilitating serious injuries, Tennessee rising senior defensive tackle Shy Tuttle should be healthy enough to participate when the Volunteers open the 2018 spring session next week.

That’s good news for first-year head coach Jeremy Pruitt, who will be looking for a nose tackle in the 3-4 defensive scheme he plans to install.

Tuttle fits the profile physically and should be the front-runner at the position in the wake of Kahlil McKenzie’s unexpected departure for the NFL draft.