There’s a growing belief Tennessee’s defensive line has been badly misjudged
One of the Tennessee Volunteers’ biggest perceived weaknesses entering the 2026 season is their defensive line.
One of the Tennessee Vols’ biggest unknowns entering the 2026 season — outside of the starting quarterback situation — is the defensive line.
The Vols lost several key contributors from last season to the NFL — Bryson Eason, Jaxson Moi, and Dominic Bailey. And the team doesn’t have a “premier” edge rusher after Penn State transfer addition Chaz Coleman didn’t work out as expected (Tennessee lost pass rushers Jordan Ross and Caleb Herring to the transfer portal).
Tennessee, though, added Tulane edge transfer Jordan Norman and Penn State defensive line transfer Xavier Gilliam. And there was already some quality talent on the roster. But we haven’t seen this group play together, and we don’t know how they’ll perform in new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ scheme. So it’s understandable that it’s a unit that’s been circled by numerous analysts this offseason as a question mark.
Vols insiders are bullish on Tennessee’s defensive line
VolQuest’s Brent Hubbs and Austin Price, arguably the top two insiders covering UT football, are higher on Tennessee’s defensive line than most.
“I’ve got more confidence in the defensive line than most,” said Price on Tuesday during an appearance on 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will. “I think that group is going to be better than most people realize — at least that’s what I’m calling as we sit here toward the end of July. I don’t get super worked up about the whole pass rusher thing. I mean, yes, you’ve got to get to the quarterback. But big defensive ends get to the quarterback in the NFL every year. You don’t have to have a specific guy who is between 240 and 250 pounds. You just have to have players that know how to get home, and coaches that know how to scheme.”
“I like this defensive line a lot,” added Price. “And I love the guy (Rodney Garner) coaching them because he’s done it for nearly 40 years in this league. And I think he’s motivated right now to show what he can do. I think the stuff in the spring with him missing spring ball, with the hip stuff and not being out there for several weeks, and [football] kind of being temporarily taken from him, really made him hungry. I think that he’s a motivated Rodney Garner as we sit here in late July. And I think that’s a good thing for Tennessee’s defensive line.”
Hubbs made some similar comments during an appearance on WNML’s SportsTalk on Tuesday.
“I believe in Rodney Garner so much, having known him for so long and seeing the results of what he’s done through the years with defensive linemen,” said Hubbs. “I think they have more talent than people want to give them credit for. Now, that talent has to take a real step.”
Hubbs added that he thinks Tennessee’s defense can be a “good bit better” early in the season.
“The notion has been that it takes so long to learn Jim Knowles’ system,” said Hubbs. “I’m not sure that’s going to be the case. I think Tennessee can be a good bit better defensively right out of the gate in year one under Jim Knowles.”
Redshirt junior Nathan Robinson is an under-the-radar Tennessee defensive lineman who’s been generating some buzz this offseason from teammates and media.
“I think Nathan Robinson, if he stays healthy, is going to have his best year,” said Hubbs earlier this month. “I think he’s going to be, I guess, a surprise to a lot of people. Because he played some last year, and did some good things early on, but maybe wasn’t as consistent as he wanted to be.
“I think he’s had a tremendous offseason. I think he and (strength coach) Derek Owings’ personalities are very similar. I think they match really well together. I think he’s done a really good job and put himself in a position to really help.”
Sophomore defensive lineman Ethan Utley is also a big believer in Robinson.
“I think people saw a few little flashes of what he’s capable of,” said Utley recently of Robinson. “I think my guy is gonna really put it all together. He’s older, and he’s higher in the rotation now. He’s had time to learn behind some great players. I think my guy Nate is gonna take that step. He’s bigger now. He’s leaned out and stronger. He’s twitched up.”
Robinson said in the spring that he feels the best he’s ever felt.
“I’d definitely say this is the best I’ve felt coming out of a spring as far as strength and power, and it’s translated on the field,” said Robinson. “I’m seeing myself in on more stuff, in on more plays — just affecting the game more.”
If the Vols are going to be good defensively in Knowles’ first season, it will start up front. There’s reason for optimism, but this group has to prove it on the field this fall.