Tennessee’s linebacker room and secondary have been major projects for the Vols’ roster since the new staff took over prior to the 2021 season.
Vols head coach Josh Heupel even joked with the media this past month that he recalled almost needing to use media members at the linebacker spot during his first year on campus. And with the way the position goes, Tennessee didn’t have the depth needed for the secondary, either. The Vols have boasted talented defensive backs over the past two years but injuries proved to uncover the lack of depth.
Those two positions look drastically different in 2023, though.
“We absolutely are deeper on the second level – the second and third levels,” Heupel said after the Vols’ scrimmage on Wednesday.
While it’s not all game-ready talent with a handful of young players still growing, Tennessee’s linebacker room and secondary room look much different than in the past.
For the linebackers, what was once a position that only needed a quick glance during practice has drawn a crowd thanks to the improved depth and new players the Vols have in the room. Aaron Beasley returns to give Tennessee an experienced player alongside veteran BYU transfer Keenan Pili.
“They’re both athletic,” Heupel said about Pili and Beasley at the start of fall camp. “They both have the ability to play in space, and that’s the nature of the game right now. Depending on which way they’re splitting out, those guys having to defend in space.”
Behind them, though, are a number of underclassmen that don’t lack the potential to play for the Vols sooner or later.
Two sophomores that earned quality experience on special teams and even some time on the defense were Elijah Herring and Kalib Beasley. Both players have spoken about how much more comfortable they now feel in their second year, which translates to improved explosiveness and understanding on the field.
“The growth of the young guys inside of our program that can be at the linebacker spot,” Heupel said. “Guys that were here playing, a lot of them at special teams, last year. Elijah (Herring) and Kalib (Perry), those two guys in particular.”
Then you get to Tennessee’s trio of talent at the freshman level with Arion Carter, Jeremiah Telander, and Jalen Smith. All three players are still awaiting their first collegiate season and have gone through typical freshman growing pains. While all three have been impressive in different ways throughout camp, Carter continues to be the talked-about name from Tennessee’s freshman class.
“The true freshman at that position — Arion Carter has had a great training camp,” Heupel said. “I said it I think a week ago but he’s taken a major step from where he finished spring ball. I’ll say the same thing about (Jeremiah) Telander and Jalen (Smith) too.”
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Heupel also mentioned the young talent that’s working with the defensive backs, too.
“On the third level, the young guys are going to play some snaps for us,” Heupel said. “We have great competition that creates urgency in the media room, creates urgency in the offseason. It shows up in the way they play and compete on the practice field and today when we’re inside the stadium.”
Tennessee brought in several highly-rated defensive backs in the 2023 recruiting class including the cornerback trio of Cristian Conyer, Rickey Gibson, and Jordan Matthews. While it’s still to be seen how much any of them play on the defense this year, even with Heupel’s comments, the young players in Tennessee’s secondary have done a nice job of acclimating to the speed and the style of collegiate football according to coaches and teammates.
Tennessee’s young talent in the secondary does immediately help depth and building for future years, but it still looks like the Vols are still going to a secondary that puts a lot of weight on their veterans: senior Doneiko Slaughter, senior Jaylen McCollough, senior Tamarion McDonald, redshirt-senior Warren Burrell, redshirt-senior Brandon Turnage, redshirt-senior Wesley Walker, and redshirt-senior Kamal Hadden.
That’s also not even mentioning redshirt-sophomore Andre Turrentine, who is a native of Tennessee in his second season on Rocky Top. Turrentine looks to be getting solid work at the safety position throughout camp.
With all of those names, Tennessee has the experience and depth to be an improved secondary this season.
“We have guys that are vets that played a lot of football last year,” Heupel said. “Those guys have all taken a step in their understanding of how we want to play too. So we absolutely have more depth, more competition as we get closer to kickoff, figuring out the rotation as those guys continue to compete and show that they’re going to play at a championship level.”
Tennessee will kick off the 2023 season on Sept. 2 against Virginia in Nashville’s Nissan Stadium.
