Defensive Line
Kendal Vickers: 26
Jonathan Kongbo: 2
Shy Tuttle: 1
Kahlil McKenzie: 1
Kyle Phillips: 1
Total: 31
Kendal Vickers is the undeniable veteran of the Vols defensive line. His 26 career starts make up nearly 84 percent of the total starts in this group. Vickers will anchor an injury-prone but extremely talented group of defensive lineman.
Jonathan Kongbo played out of position for a lot of 2016, sliding inside to play tackle because the Vols needed bodies there after injuries decimated the position. So did Kyle Phillips. He moved from defensive end to play defensive tackle last season as well.
Both of those players are projected to start at defensive end this season, however, and both are gunning for solid seasons.
Kahlil McKenzie and Shy Tuttle have both flashed their potential thus far in their careers, but injuries, especially in Tuttle’s case, have prevented them from reaching said potential. In fact, injuries have plagued a lot of the Vols’ defensive linemen.
Tuttle, McKenzie, Phillips, and Darrell Taylor have all had some sort of injury issue throughout their Vol careers. If they can stay healthy in 2017, the Vols should have one of the better defensive lines in the SEC. But that’s a big “if” given the history.
