Key Tennessee Vols position group gets massively disrespected by Pro Football Focus
One of the Tennessee Vols' most important position groups was massively slighted by Pro Football Focus this week. On Friday, PFF revealed their rankings of top 10 defensive lines in college football. And Tennessee's defensive line, shockingly, wasn't included. Here's their top 10: 1. Ohio State2. Michigan3. Miami4. Georgia5. Ole Miss6. Notre Dame7. Penn State8. […]
One of the Tennessee Vols' most important position groups was massively slighted by Pro Football Focus this week.
On Friday, PFF revealed their rankings of top 10 defensive lines in college football.
And Tennessee's defensive line, shockingly, wasn't included.
Here's their top 10:
1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Miami
4. Georgia
5. Ole Miss
6. Notre Dame
7. Penn State
8. Texas
9. Clemson
10. Oregon
It's not like PFF was trying to disrespect the Vols' defensive line but not including them in their top 10 defensive line rankings — PFF uses various "metrics", among other factors, to compile their rankings.
But that doesn't change that PFF erred by not including UT's defensive line in their rankings.
(Earlier this spring, On3 ranked the Vols' defensive line as the ninth best in college football.)
Tennessee has the best pass rusher in the nation in James Pearce on the roster. They have another potentially elite edge rusher in Caleb Herring, too. Then there's the depth that the Vols have across their defensive line. Omarr Norman-Lott has been projected as an early round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Omari Thomas should also be an NFL draft pick next spring. Bryson Eason, Dominic Bailey, Tyre West, Elijah Simmons, and Daevin Hobbs could all start for nearly any defensive line in the nation. The Vols also added Stanford transfer Jaxson Moi this offseason.
It's a loaded group for Tennessee, which is why Vols defensive coordinator Tim Banks suggested earlier this spring that UT should have the best defensive line in the nation.
"We should really have the best defensive line in the country," said Banks during spring practice. "I feel really good about our depth that we’re building. I feel really strongly about their attitude and determination that those guys have played with. I’m not even talking as much about football — just great guys. They’re great human beings and they’ve really worked hard. As coaches, we want to see guys develop to their full potential. Being able to see these guys go from year one to where they are right now has been huge and we’re super excited about those guys."
Tennessee expects to have one of the most disruptive defensive lines in the nation. The fact that PFF doesn't even think Tennessee's defensive line is worthy of a top 10 ranking is something that Vols should take personally this offseason.
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