Jim Knowles didn’t need long to identify the Tennessee defenders who stood out to him most during preseason camp.
With the Vols set to open the season Saturday afternoon against Furman, the first-year Tennessee defensive coordinator said Monday that he came away impressed by three players in particular: senior linebacker Jeremiah Telander, senior cornerback Kayin Lee and junior defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam.
Knowles said he has gotten to know Tennessee’s defensive personnel well since arriving in December, but the month of preseason work still revealed more about what the group can do.
“Telander, which is - he's certainly, like, the heart and soul of our defense, which I knew,” Knowles said after the Vols' practice Tuesday morning. “But I found that he has some particular skills that we can really use to put him in great positions to make plays, and he's really tough. I think Telander showed a lot of versatility.”
Telander has made a combined 21 starts over the past two seasons, and Knowles believes that versatility could become a real asset for Tennessee at linebacker this year. He said he saw “a lot of things during camp that were impressive” from the veteran.
Lee drew similar praise. The Auburn transfer has made a combined 25 starts over the past three years and is projected to open the season as one of Tennessee’s starting cornerbacks opposite sophomore Ty Redmond. Knowles said he’s encouraged by the way Lee has approached the position.
“K-Lee has grown,” Knowles said. “He's grown.
I've seen his development in terms of the seriousness about which he takes the preparation for the corner position. I'm hopeful that a light bulb has really gone on for him.”
Gilliam, meanwhile, is the name Knowles said he already knew well from Penn State. Tennessee added him in January, and the 6-foot-2, 305-pound tackle is expected to take on a larger role after making two starts last season for the Nittany Lions.
Knowles said Gilliam has “really taken the next step,” and added, “I think he can be a great one.”
Gilliam was one of Tennessee’s most notable transfer additions earlier this year. 247Sports ranked him the No. 53 overall player and No. 7 defensive lineman among transfers for the 2026 cycle. Last season, he played in all 13 of Penn State’s games and finished with 15 tackles, including two tackles for loss and a half-sack, along with one quarterback hurry, one forced fumble and a blocked field goal.
Gilliam said he has felt good about how camp has gone.
“I feel like I've been practicing pretty well,” Gilliam said. “You know, always looking to take the next steps.
Your coaches are not going to give you too many compliments. They don't want to feed your head.
But I could definitely feel my presence being felt, and just looking to keep turning it up a notch.”
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