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3. Defensive tackle
Depth and talent breeds fierce competition, and that will be the situation on the interior of the defensive line, where the Vols bring back several experienced veterans who will compete for time in the rotation with a couple elite freshmen. Owen Williams and Danny O’Brien are the most experienced of the bunch, and might be overlooked amidst the hype of the new guys. Kendal Vickers, a spring standout, is another player entering his third year who could help out. We’ll see what, if anything, the Vols can get out of senior Trevarris Saulsberry due to his injury history. But all eyes will be on the talented freshmen – Kahlil McKenzie and Shy Tuttle – to see how quickly they can make an impact. The reviews have been nothing but positive so far, and it’s no stretch to think that they can be factors in the rotation early. Could one or both push for a starting job even? Perhaps. That’ll be something to watch in camp.
What Butch Jones says about Kahlil McKenzie and Shy Tuttle: “Well, we’ll see. Obviously, we know a little bit more about Shy, just from having him in spring football. Kahlil has done everything that we’ve asked of him in the summer months. Now, we need to take the weight room and apply it to the practice field. We’ll know a little bit more as camp continues to progress.”
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