Defensive Line
DE: Matthew Butler, LaTrell Bumphus, John Mincey or Ja’Quain Blakely
DT: Aubrey Solomon, Emmit Gooden, Savion Williams
NG: Greg Emerson, Darel Middleton or Kurott Garland, Elijah Simmons
Darel Middleton’s status remains somewhat up in the air after his arrest two weekends ago, but assuming he’s still on the team and available to practice, he’ll be one of the many returning bodies along Tennessee’s defensive line this spring.
Matthew Butler, Aubrey Solomon, Greg Emerson, LaTrell Bumphus, Kurott Garland, and Middleton all started last season for the Vols, and all six figure to remain as the main rotational players for Tennessee this spring. The added element of intrigue will be Emmit Gooden, who returns from his season-ending injury from last year. Pruitt has yet to say if Gooden will be cleared to practice fully, but if he’s healthy, he has the tools and skill level to fight for a starting job. Right now, though, he’s behind the eight-ball a little bit.
Depth shouldn’t be an issue with this group, but Savion Williams, John Mincey, Elijah Simmons, and Ja’Quain Blakely will all need fight and scrap to try and move up the depth chart. Early enrollee Dominic Bailey will be intriguing, too.
