Tennessee’s pass rush was a big question mark entering the 2026 season.

But the Vols, depsite the questions, have been able to consistently pressure the quarterback over the first three games of the season.

The Volunteers are No. 2 in the SEC in sacks with 13 (behind only LSU).

And Tennessee has done that without fully unleashing Tulane transfer EDGE Jordan Norman just yet.

Norman is one of the Vols’ most important players this fall due to the team’s lack of pass rushing depth. After losing former five-star recruit Jordan Ross to the transfer portal, and Penn State transfer Chaz Coleman not working out, it’s Norman who is viewed as Tennessee’s top pass rushing option.

The Vols have been bringing Norman along slowly, but that’s expected to change on Saturday when Tennessee plays Texas.

“He’s a player that (Vols DL coach) Rodney Garner liked because I think Rodney Garner felt like he could be a multi-down player,” said Vol Network sideline reporter Brent Hubbs this week on The Mike Keith Show. “He wasn’t just a pass rusher — that was his strength — but Garner could make him into a multi-down player so that he could play the run better.

“I think they’ve kind of eased [Norman] along here, which has helped him get his feet wet. It’s probably been a little frustrating for him at times, but he’s a guy that back in the spring everybody went, ‘Yeah, okay, we think we’ve got one here, we think this is a good get.’ He’s getting better and better each week with his ability to rush the passer. I think he’s getting better in understanding leverage and playing the edge and setting the edge and some of those things in a new system that are different than what he played in at Tulane. … I think he is growing in his rush skills as an edge guy and he’s using his hands better. I do think they’re managing him, but I think you’re going to see that build more and more. He only played [14 snaps] in the opener. Then he played almost double that when they played Georgia Tech, and then he played more in the Kennesaw State game. He’ll have to play a big number of snaps and a big role for Tennessee to start SEC play against Texas, and all the way through the season as well.”

Norman has two sacks through the first three games of the season while being “eased along.”

The Tulane transfer is hoping to ramp up his production significantly as SEC play gets underway.

Norman, in fact, says he wants to record at least 10 sacks this season (which would mean totaling eight sacks in Tennessee’s nine SEC games).

“My personal goal for the season is at least 10 sacks,” said Norman this week on The Mike Keith Show. “I want double digits. I was at six last year, and I’m trying to get to double digits this year.”

Rushing the passer will be key against Texas. The Vols need to make quarterback Arch Manning feel uncomfortable all afternoon. A fully unleashed Norman could be a huge key to Tennessee getting a win against Texas on Saturday in Neyland Stadium.