Tennessee Vols have an answer for significant roster question mark with a player who quietly had a terrific season in 2024
The Tennessee Vols' defense was a major reason why the team reached the College Football Playoff in 2024 for the first time in program history. The Vols' held their opponents to 20 points or less in 10 of 12 regular season games, as Tennessee's deep defensive line chewed up opposing offensive lines and ballcarriers. Naturally, […]
The Tennessee Vols' defense was a major reason why the team reached the College Football Playoff in 2024 for the first time in program history. The Vols' held their opponents to 20 points or less in 10 of 12 regular season games, as Tennessee's deep defensive line chewed up opposing offensive lines and ballcarriers.
Naturally, the Vols have had some elite talent on that defense, with James Pearce, Jr. and Omarr Norman-Lott getting drafted in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft in April and Jermod McCoy getting preseason love from several media outlets.
However, the highest graded player on the Vols' defense last year returns in 2025, and he's someone who didn't get much attention. DE/LEO Joshua Josephs earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 89.8, tops on UT's defense. His mark was also the second highest in the entire SEC among returning edge rushers.
Josephs is a rising senior out of Kennesaw, Georgia, coming to Tennessee as a four-star prospect and #71 overall recruit per On3 Sports. He has played in 37 games over his first three seasons, notching 5.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, and 6 passes defended over that span. He's spent time behind Pearce, Jr. and 2023 third-round pick in Los Angeles Rams DE Byron Young.
He split the LEO position last year with Pearce, Jr., totaling 39 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and 3 passes defended. His run defense grade from Pro Football Focus (91.4) was the highest on the team, and his pass rush grade (86.4) was second only to Pearce, Jr. (88.9). He had an 11.8% pressure rate (22 pressures in 186 pass rushing snaps) last year.
Tennessee has counted on some dominating edge play in recent years as the Vols' defense has remade itself in Josh Heupel's four years. Now, the stage is clear for Josephs to continue that trend in 2025.
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