When Tennessee opened fall camp, Jim Knowles didn’t pretend the pass rush was a solved problem.
The new defensive coordinator was asked where that part of the defense stood, and he answered it plainly: “It’s a question mark and time will tell how that goes,” Knowles said at the time. “But we need to have other tools in the toolbox to create the pass rush if need be. And we’ll have that.”
A few weeks later, Knowles sounds a lot more encouraged.
Speaking Tuesday, he said the Vols showed him enough during camp to believe the defense has ways to generate pressure, even if the real test won’t come until the games start.
“I thought we did well in the preseason,” Knowles said on Tuesday. “Creating some things through various schemes, not going to get into game planning, but we did some things in fall camp that were effective.
So I was impressed with what we could generate against our offense, which is a really good offense. Like anything, game time will tell.
Game time will tell.”
The uncertainty around Tennessee’s edge rush has been shaped in part by the offseason loss of Penn State transfer Chaz Coleman. Coleman had shown flashes with the Nittany Lions and looked like a rising sophomore who could grow into a premier edge rusher, but after missing practices and team activities, he was medically disqualified.
Even with Coleman in the picture, Tennessee’s expected starting edges for Saturday’s opener against Furman still looked pretty clear. At defensive end, veteran Tyree Weathersby is the likely option as he tries to prove he can hold down an SEC starting job after injuries have interrupted his career. At LEO, Jordan Norman arrives from Tulane with a chance to carve out his place in the conference.
The bigger question is what comes next. Behind that first group, the depth chart gets a little less certain.
At LEO, Christian Gass, Kedric Golston and Hezekiah Harris are names to keep an eye on. At defensive end, Mariyon Dye, Carter Gooden and Breeze Carter are in the mix.
Knowles also has another way to work around any thin spots up front: personnel flexibility. Tennessee’s base is a 4-2-5, but the staff can lean into three-linebacker looks if needed, which could help offset any issues at edge and give the defense another route to creating pressure.
In Other News...
Former Tennessee Transfers Are Turning Up In Some Awkward Places
When Tennessee turned over so much of its roster through the portal, the next step was always going to be seeing where all those former Volunteers landed. A sizable chunk stayed in the Power Four, and a notable number remained in the SEC, which is part of what makes the offseason so oddly familiar around Knoxville. The programs departures are scattered across the country now, and for Tennessee fans, the connections do not disappear just because the jerseys changed.
Peyton Lewis added another layer to that familiar feeling by showing up in a Week Zero game for Virginia, a reminder that the portal rarely keeps old ties at a distance for long. For Tennessee, the broader picture is bigger than any single move, with former players popping up in places that can feel a little awkward when the new season starts and old opponents suddenly include faces that once wore orange. [Read more 🡒]
Rick Barnes Has A Huge Recruiting Opportunity This Weekend
Tennessee is turning a football weekend into a full-court recruiting showcase, with the mens basketball staff set to host several elite prospects on official visits while the Vols have the campus spotlight. Among the visitors are five-star point guard Cayden Daughtry and four-star point guard Micah Gordon from the 2027 class, along with five-star forward Bentley Lusakueno from the 2028 class, giving Rick Barnes and his staff a chance to put the program in front of some of the nations most intriguing young talents.
The timing matters because these trips line up with football game weekends, when Knoxville is at its liveliest and the athletic department can lean into the atmosphere. Tennessee is not the only program trying to make an impression, but the Vols will also have the Lady Vols welcoming five-star point guard Cece Dennis, adding another notable recruiting stop to what could be a busy and important stretch for the school across both programs. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Is Already Chasing A Massive Lineman For Its Future
Tennessee is already looking well down the road in its offensive line recruiting, and the latest name on the board is Rex George-Taylor, a 2028 prospect from Darlington, Ga. The Volunteers extended a scholarship offer to the towering junior, who checks in at 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds, adding him to a growing early list that also includes offers from Cincinnati, Mississippi State and Connecticut.
George-Taylors reaction to the Tennessee offer was part of the story, but the bigger takeaway for Vols fans is how aggressively the staff is approaching future line prospects this far out. Recruiting for players still years away from signing day is all about getting in early and staying present, and Tennessee appears to have done just that, with more developments expected as his recruitment continues to build. [Read more 🡒]