Offseason position analysis: Linebacker
- Jun 5, 2015
- 2 min read
Going into the 2015 season, linebacker will have more question marks surrounding it than any other defensive position.
The graduation of A.J. Johnson leaves Tennessee with a huge gap to fill at middle linebacker, arguably the most important position on the defense.
The candidates to replace Johnson are sophomore Jakob Johnson, true freshman Darrin Kirkland Jr., redshirt freshman Dillon Bates, freshman Gavin Bryant, and junior Kenny Bynum.
The Germany native Jakob Johnson saw lots of time at middle linebacker at the end of last season when A.J. Johnson was suspended, but at the end of spring practice, it was Bynum who looked to have a leg up in the competition.
That was in part because Johnson and Kirkland Jr. were held out of spring practice due to injuries, but Bynum did outplay Bates and Bryant this spring to take the lead going into summer.
“You look at Gavin Bryant, and he redshirt last year,” defensive coordinator John Jancek said. “Dillon Bates ended up redshirting last year, and he never played Mike (middle linebacker) before he got hurt.
“He was a Will [linebacker] last fall. Kenny Bynum is probably the most functional guy there, and that’s because he’s played it. Jakob Johnson isn’t out there because he’s been injured, and it’s the same thing with Darrin Kirkland. You’ve got to just keep working. There’s no shortcut.”
In certain times during the season, talented junior and 2014 starter Jalen Reeves-Maybin could move over to middle linebacker to help out.
Though middle linebacker is definitely a concern, there are lots of reasons to be optimistic about at this position.
Reeves-Maybin is one of them. He finished ninth in the SEC last season with 88 tackles, and will assume a leadership role that Johnson occupied in 2014.
Even though Curt Maggitt is considered a linebacker-defensive end hybrid, he will also provide experience for this position group.
Chris Weatherd, who saw lots of action last season, will also be someone to watch in 2015.
Weatherd won’t be a starter, but will once again see lots of playing time, and is an extremely valuable player to have on the field in pass rushing situations.
Overall this group may not necessarily be considered a strength, but if the Vols can figure out the middle linebacker situation, linebacker as a whole shouldn’t be a concern in the fall.
“Certainly the Mike linebacker has to step up,” Jancek said. “There’s no question about that.”
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