Jim Knowles is walking into Tennessee with the kind of defensive reputation that makes people expect answers. The problem is, the Vols are handing him a roster that’s going to demand them.
The biggest issue is up front. Tennessee simply does not have much depth on the defensive line, and the edge spots look especially thin. Tulane transfer Jordan Norman is the only LEO on the roster with any real college experience, while Tyree Weathersby and Mariyon Dye sit atop the strongside defensive end group and will need to take a major step forward this season.
That shortage is what makes the pass rush such a tricky puzzle. Even Knowles admitted it was hard to know exactly how Tennessee will get home with four linemen.
“Time will tell, right? Time will tell,” Knowles said.
“It’s a question mark and time will tell how that goes. But we need to have other tools in the toolbox to create the pass rush if need be.
And we’ll have that.”
Maybe the front four turns out to be better than expected. That’s still on the table. But based on the way Knowles talked at the opening of fall camp, Tennessee is probably going to need more than a standard four-man rush to consistently pressure quarterbacks.
That’s where the linebackers come in. Tennessee’s inside linebacker room is deep, and it might be the strongest position group on the defense. Arion Carter, Jeremiah Telander and Edwin Spillman are all names Knowles could turn loose in different ways, including as edge rushers.
There’s also the possibility Tennessee leans harder into 3-3-5 looks than it has in the past. That would help cover for the lack of defensive line bodies while still keeping the best players on the field. Knowles has made it clear he wants to build around his best 11, not force the defense into a rigid structure.
“Linebacker room is deep,” Knowles said. “So Two, three, four linebackers is part of the plan.
Now we have to see who develops as our best 11, who’s the best 15, who’s the best 22. And we’re going to play the guys that are the best players.
And it’s my job to get them in positions where they can succeed.”
That plan took a hit this week when safety Edrees Farooq suffered a season-ending leg injury. Knowles relies heavily on his safeties, and Farooq looked like maybe the best one on the roster.
Still, Josh Heupel said the injury changes the depth picture more than it changes what Tennessee can do schematically.
“(It) Affects the depth,” Heupel said. “I don’t think it’ll affect the creativity of what we’re able to do.”
Tennessee spent the offseason rebuilding its defense through the transfer portal, and there is real talent in the group. The catch is that the talent isn’t spread evenly. The Vols have bodies and options at linebacker, but they’re short on defensive line depth.
So for Knowles, the challenge is pretty clear: find ways to use Tennessee’s best 11 defenders, and figure out how to create a pass rush without leaning on four linemen to do all the work.
In Other News...
Tennessee Showed Off A 2026 Threat Fans Have Been Waiting For
The final Tennessee football fall camp practice open to the media before the 2026 season offered another look at why the Vols have plenty of buzz heading into the year. In offense and defense sessions, quarterbacks Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre both flashed on deep throws during wet-ball drills, while receivers Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley stood out by finishing plays through the conditions. It was the kind of practice snapshot that reminded observers how much talent is already stacking up across the roster.
There was also meaningful intrigue on the other side of the ball, where the defensive backs and other position groups drew attention as the competition continues to take shape. Freshman JJ Finch was especially notable as a potential factor on the defensive line, adding another name to a unit that could use more answers as camp winds down. For a team trying to sort out its next wave of contributors, these final open practices have been useful for showing which young players are starting to look like real options. [Read more 🡒]
Candace Parker's Hall Of Fame Moment Hit Tennessee Fans Right Away
Candace Parkers Hall of Fame weekend came with a very familiar orange-and-white touch for Tennessee fans, and it fit the moment. The former Lady Vol great was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame alongside Chamique Holdsclaw, adding another milestone to a career that already includes two national championships at Tennessee, three WNBA titles and two league MVP awards before her retirement after the 2023 season.
What made the ceremony land so quickly with Vols supporters was who stepped up to present her. NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson introduced Parker while wearing Tennessee apparel, a detail that connected one of the sports biggest stages right back to Knoxville. For a fan base that has long claimed Parker as one of its own, it was the kind of scene that made the induction feel personal from the start. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Faces A Growing Tight End Concern With Ethan Davis Still Out
Tennessees tight end room has become a little thinner in camp with Ethan Davis still sidelined after a minor lower-body injury from the opening fall practice. The injury was suffered on Aug. 6, and while the situation is not viewed as serious, the Vols have now gone through multiple workouts without him as they manage his return carefully.
Davis has missed nine straight practices, which matters because Tennessee does not have much proven depth behind him at the position. The cautious approach makes sense this time of year, but it also leaves the staff waiting for one of its more important pieces to get back on the field and stabilize a spot that could use the help. [Read more 🡒]