Linebacker
OLB1: Kivon Bennett, Roman Harrison
ILB1: Henry To’o To’o, Aaron Beasley
ILB2: J.J. Peterson or Solon Page III
OLB2: Deandre Johnson, Jordan Allen
Out: 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.”
With Quavaris Crouch out for the spring, Tennessee is left with just four players who project as inside linebackers this spring, and that’s assuming defensive back Aaron Beasley stays with the ILBs like he did for most of the fall.
Henry To’o To’o undoubtedly has a starting spot wrapped up, but can someone emerge alongside him with Crouch out? This is an opportune time for J.J. Peterson to step up, and he’ll be relied on heavily this spring to see what he can bring. Solon Page III will vie for playing time as well before more freshmen join the fray over the summer.
At outside linebacker, both Kivon Bennett and Deandre Johnson saw time as the secondary pass rusher and outside backer alongside Darrell Taylor last season. But this year, one of those two could be in line to start as the main pass rusher. Jordan Allen and Roman Harrison will provide competition there for both.
