Edwin Spillman is Tennessee’s third most experienced linebacker behind the junior starting tandem of Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander.
Spillman has four collegiate contests under his belt.
“I do feel like an older guy,” the redshirt freshman out of Nashville’s Lipscomb Academy said in a news conference this past weekend. “I’ve been here for over a year now. I’ve been able to learn and pick up the defense very smoothly, and I’m improving.”
The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder was limited last year as a freshman due to a wrist injury, but he competed in the regular-season finale at Vanderbilt and during the first-round playoff game at Ohio State. In the 42-17 loss to the Buckeyes, he played a season-high 25 snaps.
With a clean bill of health this spring, Spillman started to show why the Volunteers this season may not be referred to as having a linebacker duo but rather possessing a trio.
“Edwin would be what you would call the monster of the room,” Tennessee second-year linebackers coach William Inge said. “He doesn’t have to speak a lot, because you have Arion and Telander there, but when he does speak, he is very active. He is someone who we have a high regard for when it comes to putting him on the football field.”
Said Spillman: “I just go out there and play with violence. That’s just who I am and the type of player I am.”
Tennessee had Monday off and will resume preseason workouts Tuesday.
Spillman has the potential to make as big of a jump as any Vols player after collecting just six tackles in those four games a year ago. Inge’s excitement for the former four-star signee is matched by that of fifth-year defensive coordinator Tim Banks.
“He had a really good spring for us, and he’s exactly what we are looking for in terms of understanding the standards and living by it day-by-day,” Banks said. “It’s just in the way he comes to work every day. He’s also got great leadership skills.
“We’re a pressure team, and we want athletic linebackers who can win one-on-ones.”
One of Spillman’s objectives is to be one of Tennessee’s top pass-rushing threats, and his coaches are loving the confidence that he is displaying.
“He’s the combination of both Arion, with his speed and physicality, and Telander, with his ability to run through a wall,” Inge said. “If you had a brick wall up, he’s like the ‘Incredible Hulk,’ because he is going through the wall. That’s what we love about Edwin, and that’s why he’s going to continue to keep on rising.
“He’s like yeast. Every day he gets bigger and better. He’s everything that you want out of a player. It’s a blessing to have him on our football team.”
The starting point
Tennessee was ranked 18th in Monday’s release of the US LBM coaches poll, known formerly as the USA Today poll.
The Vols are among nine Southeastern Conference teams in the preseason top 25, with Texas No. 1, Georgia No. 4, Alabama No. 8, LSU No. 9, South Carolina No. 13, Ole Miss No. 15, Florida No. 17 and Texas A&M No. 21. Following the Longhorns at the very top are Ohio State and Penn State, with Notre Dame rounding out the top five.
Tennessee was ranked 15th in last year’s preseason coaches poll and 10th in 2023. The Vols began the 2022 season unranked but vaulted to 16th after a 2-0 start and finished sixth following a 31-14 downing of Clemson in the Orange Bowl.
The Associated Press preseason poll is scheduled to be released next Monday.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.