KNOXVILLE - The Times Free Press is taking a daily positional look at the 2019 Tennessee football team, leading up to the first day of preseason camp on Aug. 2. You can look at previous previews we've done on quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers/tight ends, offensive line and defensive line. Today we continue on the defensive side of the ball with the linebackers:
Who's Back
The linebacking corps is pretty much senior inside linebacker Daniel Bituli and senior outside linebacker Darrell Taylor, and everybody else. Taylor showed some flashes of dominance in 2018, compiling eight sacks, the most of any returning Southeastern Conference player. The problem is that four of those came against Kentucky and three against Georgia, meaning Taylor will have to show some consistency in his final season with the program. The spot opposite him will be up for grabs, with any number of possible candidates available. Deandre Johnson started against Alabama and could be the leader in the clubhouse, but Kivon Bennett - who figures into the mix at defensive end as well - and Jordan Allen will be among those in position among the players returning. The inside linebacker position is led by Bituli, who led the team in tackles for the second straight season, while junior Will Ignont started two games and finished with 47 tackles. Sophomore Jeremy Banks could possibly be in the mix at linebacker, should things not work out at running back.
Who's New
The Vols have loaded up at the position over the past two recruiting cycles, with four players that could be asked to make impacts in their first seasons with the program. After some issues getting into school last summer, J.J. Peterson - a highly-regarded prospect - finally arrived right before the season opener. It took a while for him to get acclimated and up-to-speed with head coach Jeremy Pruitt's defensive scheme, but with a full season and offseason behind him, the 6-foot-2, 233-pounder should be ready to go. The Vols then signed three players in 2019: outside linebacker Roman Harrison and versatile prospects Quavaris Crouch and Henry To'o to'o. Harrison could figure into a role similar to Taylor down the road, showing his ability to disrupt an offense while at Bainbridge (Ga.), logging 8.5 sacks and 31 tackles for loss as a senior in leading the team to a Class 5A state championship and earning state defensive player of the year honors in his classification. Crouch signed in December and enrolled in January, going through the spring with the team. Listed as North Carolina's top prospect, the 6-foot-1, 246-pounder played both running back and linebacker but chose to stick to the defensive side of the ball. To'o to'o, the program's final signee, was listed as one of the top five linebacker prospects in the country out of De La Salle in California.
Strengths
At the top, there's experience with Bituli and Taylor, something that an overall inexperienced defense is going to need a lot of. Bituli will be asked to be the quarterback of the defense, with Taylor ideally the most disruptive player there. Behind them, there's a ton of potential in the freshmen class alone with Peterson and the three true freshmen. Both Crouch and To'o To'o are capable of playing either inside or outside. Ignont could be serviceable in a starting role or as a reserve.
Weaknesses
Unfortunately, potential is just that: potential. Sure, high recruiting rankings are nice labels to attach to players when they arrive, but it's not until they get on the field that one can assess the true value. What if none of the players are quite ready or up to the task? That could make for a long year at the second level.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.