Linebacker
OLB1: Darrell Taylor, Kivon Bennett
ILB1: Daniel Bituli, Shanon Reid
ILB2: Will Ignont/Henry To’oto’o, Solon Page III
OLB2: Deandre Johnson, Quavaris Crouch
The terminology in Pruitt’s defensive system is much different than what we have listed here, but we wanted to simplify things and simply list the linebacker positions as “outside linebacker” and “inside linebacker.”
Aside from Darrell Taylor and Daniel Bituli, Tennessee had a lot of questions about their linebacking corps heading into fall camp. Now that camp is over, some of those questions look like they’ve been answered.
True freshman Henry To’oto’o came in and immediately impressed on the practice field. As of right now, it looks like he could be a co-starter along with Will Ignont at one of the inside linebacker spots when UT is in a 3-4 set. Regardless, To’oto’o will get playing time early and often, and he’s firmly in the two-deep.
Deandre Johnson seems to have secured the pass rushing outside linebacker spot opposite Darrell Taylor, and true freshman Quavaris Crouch has been coming along well throughout the fall. Kivon Bennett figures to be the next man up in the rotation at outside linebacker.
Will Roman Harrison work his way more into the two-deep as the season goes along? Does J.J. Peterson make a move and become a factor at inside linebacker? Those are two storylines to follow this season.
