Tennessee defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam’s breakout season has now put him in the mix for one of college football’s biggest individual defensive honors.
Gilliam was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Midseason Watch List, another notch on a resume that keeps growing by the week. The award, presented annually by the Maxwell Football Club, goes to the nation’s top defensive player.
For Tennessee, the selection is another sign of how central Gilliam has become to the Volunteers’ defense this season. Through the first seven games, he piled up 10.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles and six quarterback hurries.
That 10.5 tackles-for-loss total was the most by a Tennessee defender through seven games since Derek Barnett had 11.5 in 2016. It also made Gilliam one of just three SEC players to reach double-digit tackles for loss at that point in the year.
Those numbers tell the story of a defender who has been wrecking plays all over the field, whether he’s blowing up runs behind the line or getting after the quarterback.
His impact has helped make Tennessee’s defensive front a real strength under defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
Gilliam has already picked up midseason All-America recognition from the Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports, On3, The Sporting News and The Athletic.
Now he’s in the conversation for the Bednarik Award as well, with semifinalists set to be announced November 10 and finalists following on November 24.
With games still left on the schedule, Gilliam has a chance to keep adding to his case while Tennessee chases its postseason goals. For the Volunteers, having a defensive lineman who can flip a game is a luxury - and Gilliam has proven he can do exactly that.
In Other News...
Tennessee Just Entered A Recruiting Battle Vols Fans Will Notice
Tennessee has jumped into the mix for one of the more closely watched running back prospects in the country, as Jayshawn Mitchell trimmed his list to 15 schools and kept the Vols in the hunt after a recent offer. The William J. Brennan High School standout from San Antonio has already built a national recruitment, and Tennessee now finds itself among a group of programs still chasing a player whose production and visits have kept plenty of coaches interested.
For the Vols, Mitchell is another reminder that the running back board remains active even with other top backs already committed. Tennessee continues to push for multiple high-profile targets, and landing a player with Mitchells profile would only add to a class that has already been gaining traction at the position. The next step will be whether the Vols can turn that late entry into real momentum against a crowded field. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Has One More Recruiting Battle Fans Will Be Watching Closely
Tennessees 2027 recruiting class is already taking shape with 19 commitments, and two of the names that stand out from Grayson High School are running back David Gabriel-Georges and defensive back Preston Glasco. Glasco, in particular, looks like the kind of long-term addition coaches keep circling back to - a tall, developmental cornerback with the size to help in run support and enough tools to suggest a higher ceiling down the road.
There is still at least one more battle worth watching closely, though, and it comes with an in-state wrinkle that makes it even more meaningful for the Vols. Tennessee remains in the mix for defensive lineman Joshua Lane, who is expected to choose between the Vols and Alabama, giving the staff another chance to protect home turf while trying to finish strong with a key target. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Fans Have One Big DeSean Bishop Concern Right Now
The Heisman Trophy websites fan-driven Heisman Hopefuls section has given Tennessee supporters another reason to check in on the roster, with seven Volunteers showing up in the top five of their positional groups. Among them, DeSean Bishop has been drawing the most attention, sitting out front among the running backs and adding to the buzz around a team that already has plenty of eyes on it as the season moves forward.
The concern, though, is less about the voting and more about Bishops immediate availability after a recent injury issue. Josh Heupel said the situation is expected to settle in well for the upcoming game, but there is still a wait-and-see element for fans hoping Tennessees backfield remains intact as SEC play continues to pile up. [Read more 🡒]