Last Chance U: How good could Emmit Gooden be after Independence C.C.

Tennessee’s defensive line

This Tennessee defensive line features a host of experienced and skilled players coming back in 2018. The Vols did lose out on the former No. 1 high school prospect in the nation in defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie to the 2018 NFL Draft. McKenzie was selected by the Oakland Raiders, where his dad is the general manager.

However, a tremendously talented pair of returning seniors to watch along the defensive line for Tennessee include defensive tackle Shy Tuttle and defensive end Kyle Phillips. Beyond Tuttle and Phillips, the Vols also have three upperclassmen that should all make a huge impact in 2018 between redshirt junior defensive end Darrell Taylor, and a pair of former transfer redshirt defensive lineman in Jonathan Kongbo and Alexis Johnson.

With so many question marks for the Vols on the offensive side of the ball in Pruitt’s first year at the helm, the front seven needs to standout to carry the load. Gooden could work his way up the depth chart among a deep and experienced defensive line, but he’ll have to prove his worth in fall camp and early in the regular season to get to that point.

Taylor and Kongbo are two of the returning sack leaders for a Tennessee pass rush that was lacking last season. To succeed more in the SEC East in 2018, Gooden will need to help out the Tennessee pass rush with at least two or three sacks this fall.