Tennessee’s offseason has been defined by uncertainty in a few big places, but one unit is drawing national praise for all the right reasons.
CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer ranked the best positional groups in college football for 2026, and Tennessee’s linebackers landed at the top of the list. That’s a notable spotlight for a Vols team that has otherwise flown a little under the radar, with roster turnover and an unsettled quarterback battle shaping the conversation around the program heading into what looks like a wide-open SEC race.
The Vols’ defensive overhaul started back in December, when Tim Banks was fired and Jim Knowles was hired away from Penn State. Knowles also brought several former Nittany Lions with him to Knoxville, including EDGE Chaz Coleman, linebacker Amare Campbell and safety Dejuan Lane. Coleman is now gone, but Campbell remains a major piece in the middle and is expected to make a strong impact this season.
Hummer pointed to Tennessee’s depth as the reason the group stood out nationally.
“The Volunteers have the deepest linebacker unit in the country. For example, Edwin Spillman (81) and Jeremiah Telander (80) led Tennessee in tackles last year and are back in 2026. Yet there’s a real chance neither starts due to the presence of Arion Carter -- an expected draft pick who returned to school because of injury -- and Penn State transfer Amare Campbell, a four-star addition out of the portal who’s totaled 179 tackles, 20 TFLs and 9.5 sacks over the past two seasons.
That’s a loaded quartet for a defense that’s expected to run a 4-2-5 the majority of the time. And I haven’t even mentioned the presence of sophomores Jaedon Harmon (19 tackles) and Jadon Perlotte (19 tackles), both of whom were high-level contributors as four-star true freshmen a season ago.”
That kind of depth gives Tennessee a real luxury in the middle of the defense. Carter’s return was a major development, especially with his draft stock already pointing upward.
Spillman has been one of the quieter standouts on the roster, and he led all SEC freshmen last season with 80 tackles. Telander brings the same kind of production and reliability.
Behind them, Harmon and Perlotte give the Vols two more former four-star talents with real game experience.
Losing Coleman is still a hit, and Tennessee will need to find ways to get off the field more consistently on defense next season. That could mean a more aggressive approach and more blitzing than the Vols might otherwise prefer. But even with that loss, the middle of the defense looks like a strength - and maybe the kind of strength that can help Tennessee take a big step forward in 2026.
In Other News...
Vols Lose Out On Elite Linebacker Target In Brutal Recruiting Miss
Roman Igwebuikes recruitment had long been one for Tennessee fans to watch, especially with the Chicago linebacker drawing attention as one of the top defenders in the 2027 class. The Vols had been involved early, and the connection made sense given the work former linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary did on the trail before moving on to Notre Dame.
Even with Tennessee already building some linebacker momentum in the class, this one had the feel of a major swing opportunity. Igwebuike made it to Knoxville for the Orange and White Game, but the Vols never got him back for an official visit, leaving plenty of room for another program to seize control of the race. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee May Have A Hidden Edge In Battle For David Gabriel Georges
The recruiting race for five-star running back David Gabriel Georges has narrowed into a summer decision that now feels as much about fit and feel as it does about football. Tennessee remains in the mix alongside Ohio State and Ole Miss after official visits, and the Volunteers have at least one fresh selling point working in their favor: the programs new adidas partnership, which gives the staff another angle to pitch as Georges weighs his options.
Georges is expected to announce his college choice on July 22, and the path to that decision has already taken a few turns, including a canceled planned trip to Georgia. For Tennessee, the challenge is simple enough to state and hard to finish - keep the momentum from the visit season, make the most of the late-stage push, and hope the new-look brand package helps separate the Vols from two other heavyweight contenders. [Read more 🡒]
Joey Aguilar Just Showed How Much Tennessee Still Means To Him
Joey Aguilars lone season at Tennessee left a real imprint, from the numbers he put up to the way he helped steer the Vols to a key win at Florida. Even after moving on to the next level, the quarterback has made it clear the year meant more than a stopover, and a tattoo on his left leg now says as much about his path as any stat line ever could.
For Tennessee, the bigger picture is what comes next. Aguilar is gone to the NFL, and the Vols are left sorting out a quarterback room that now centers on Faizon Brandon, George MacIntyre and Ryan Staub, with the job opening up at a moment when the program is trying to carry forward what Aguilar helped build. [Read more 🡒]