Develop the Middle Linebacker(s)
Kenny Bynum? Dillon Bates? Darrin Kirkland Jr.? Gavin Bryant? The jury is still out on who will start in the middle for the Volunteers when they face Bowling Green at LP Field in Nashville on September 5th, but this summer is the time to make sure that any and all of them can get the job done when their number is called.
The middle linebacker in John Jancek’s system is the quarterback of the defense. They are in charge of making sure the play is called and that everyone is lined up properly before the snap. With nobody taking the job and running with it during spring practice, the door is still open for any of the aforementioned players to claim the job, but this feels like a battle that could continue into the season with multiple players seeing live reps. This summer is the perfect opportunity for John Jancek and linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen to make sure that they have options to work with once the season begins. Ideally, one player becomes ‘the guy’ and never looks back, but this summer is the time to equip and develop them all before fall camp begins in August.
