KNOXVILLE - The Tennessee Volunteers' defense certainly had some solid moments last football season.
It also had some moments that would be nice to forget.
While the Vols didn't finish at the bottom of any Southeastern Conference statistical categories defensively, they also didn't finish near the top. Twelfth in scoring defense. Ninth in total defense. Ninth against the run, eighth against the pass.
There's still a ways to go.
At least there's a level of excitement with the program's latest defensive additions, both on the roster and on the coaching staff. The program brought in Derrick Ansley, one of the top recruiters in the country as well as one of the top developers of talent. While his position is unknown, his experience is in the secondary.
There was a lot of player turnover on the defensive side of the ball, so needs were addressed with 10 of the program's 23 signees expected to be defensive additions.
Today, the Times Free Press takes a positional look at the defense:
DEFENSIVE LINE
The line took the biggest hit out of any of the three levels of the defense, losing four seniors to expired eligibility. That leaves questions as to who even remains. The leader would have to be Emmit Gooden, a 6-foot-3, 306-pound junior college transfer who finished third on the team in tackles for loss with seven. The second-leading tackler for returners on the unit is junior Matthew Butler, who played in nine games and totaled 13 stops. That equals opportunities for three signees to make immediate impacts. Savion Williams was the top-ranked junior college defensive tackle in the country. Darel Middleton, like Williams a juco product, was ranked fifth at the same position. Elijah Simmons weighs 344 pounds but can dunk a basketball. At least one could be asked to contribute. Aubrey Solomon, a transfer from Michigan, is expected to sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules but has applied for a hardship waiver that would make him eligible immediately. If approved, he would give the Vols a boost, as he was another top-five defensive tackle product in high school. He had 24 tackles and two for loss in two seasons with the Wolverines.
LINEBACKERS
The most experienced returning group, the linebackers are led by Darrell Taylor, Daniel Bituli and Darrin Kirkland Jr. Taylor had a team-high eight sacks, with six coming in two games (Georgia and Kentucky). Bituli has led the team in tackles for two consecutive seasons, while Kirkland has 28 career starts. Yet the buzz seems to be around a four-player signing class, as well as the addition of J.J. Peterson, who redshirted last season. Two of the last four signees for the 2019 class - Quavaris Crouch, an outside linebacker; and Henry To'oto'o, who plays inside - could be asked to make immediate impacts. Likely outside linebacker Roman Harrison and athlete Aaron Beasley, who could factor in at running back but is likely an inside linebacker, could as well.
SECONDARY
Only senior safety Nigel Warrior and versatile senior Baylen Buchanan started all 12 games last season for the Vols, as the team relied heavily on youth. Three freshmen started games in the defensive backfield, with Bryce Thompson earning Freshman All-America honors and Alontae Taylor and Trevon Flowers netting starting assignments as well, while Shawn Shamburger and Theo Jackson also spent time in the starting lineup. While it would appear the team has its starters set in some capacity, the coaching staff attacked the secondary in recruiting. Three - Tyus Fields, Jaylen McCollough and Warren Burrell - already have signed, while Anthony Harris and Kenney Solomon have committed but are handling academic issues that could affect their signings. Nothing will be known about their status in the near future.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.