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Tennessee Football: 2017 season preview, predictions

By Connor Muldowney

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 4: Todd Kelly Jr. #6 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after intercepting a pass during the game against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium on October 4, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida defeated Tennessee 10-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 4: Todd Kelly Jr. #6 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after intercepting a pass during the game against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium on October 4, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida defeated Tennessee 10-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Defense

How good can this side of the ball be after a disappointing 2016 season? The Volunteers finished 95th in total defense, allowing nearly 450 yards per game, as well as 68th in scoring. That’s not exactly a recipe for success and it played a major role in the 9-4 season and 4-4 letdown in SEC play.

The Volunteers return six defensive starters, but a couple of the members in the secondary coming back aren’t guaranteed to retain their No. 1 jobs. Senior Emmanuel Mosely, a corner, is one of those guys. He had 57 tackles and six pass deflections last season.

The other is junior safety Micah Abernathy. He had 69 tackles, which was second on the team, four pass deflections and two interceptions. However, when your secondary ranks 72nd against the pass, you need to make changes.

Seniors Justin Martin and Shaq Wiggins look to be the starting corners and senior Todd Kelly Jr., the team’s leading tackler in 2016, will be joined by sophomore Nigel Warrior at the safety spots. Evan Berry is also back. The potential for improvement is there.

Can front-seven make necessary changes?

The front-seven, which includes the nickel back position, returns just three starters from a season ago. While that may seem like a bad sign, it could be quite the opposite. In fact, the front-seven was in desperate need of a fresh start after allowing over 200 rushing yards per game last season, good for 104th in the country.

Can the unit make the necessary changes to move forward as a serviceable run-stopping force? Kendal Vickers returns as a starting tackle, the only returning lineman, after recording 38 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season. Junior Kahlil McKenzie joins him on the interior as a starter while sophomore Darrell Taylor and junior Jonathan Kongbo are the presumed starters at the ends — neither has much starting experience.

Junior Darrin Kirkland finished eighth on the team in tackles, with 45, and returns as a starting middle linebacker. Next to him will be senior Cortez McDowell who finished one spot higher with 54 total tackles. Rashaan Gaulden is a name to watch at nickel, finishing with 67 tackles last season and playing well.

This unit has the talent, but it’s not going to be easy to replace Derek Barnett. However, there’s nowhere to go but up from that 104th ranking.

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