Position Previews: Defensive Line
Credit: Sports Illustrated
By Tucker Harlin
Rodney Garner’s knack for finding top-tier talent on the defensive front is a skill that’s behooved him at every stop in the coaching ranks.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Richard Seymour, former ESPN personality David Pollack, Geno Atkins, John Jenkins, and Derrick Brown are among a long list of notable defensive linemen Garner has put in the NFL.
Garner is working to ready guys of that caliber for the NFL at Tennessee now. If anything, he’s made a compelling argument for the Vols’ defensive line as the deepest unit on the team.
The losses the line took in the offseason were minimal as Tyler Baron transferred and Kurott Garland and Roman Harrison ran out of eligibility.
The crown jewel of this unit is edge rusher James Pearce. Tennessee’s (and possibly the country’s) most disruptive player seemingly came out of nowhere in 2023, logging 10 sacks and finding his way onto the All-SEC first team. Pearce is mocked as the top draft choice in 2025 on multiple outlets.
As if Pearce wasn’t already good enough, he has two coveted prospects behind him in Josh Josephs and Caleb Herring. Both are looking for more involvement this season.
Looking to make jumps on the other end are juniors Dominic Bailey and Tyre West. West had a tremendous performance in the Citrus Bowl to conclude the 2023 season, and Bailey is another veteran presence that should benefit the group.
Omari Thomas and Omarr Norman-Lott are the starters inside.
Thomas is one of a handful of fifth-year seniors and three-year starters on the team. Norman-Lott transferred in from Arizona State last season and made an immediate impact, recording 5.5 sacks for the Vols.
Others looking to make impacts in the interior are Bryson Eason and Elijah Simmons.
Eason is another one that’s been around the program for five years now, and he made a big jump in production last season.
We’ve heard every year for about the last ten that Elijah Simmons was going to have a breakout season, and that’s just not been the case. The staff still believes in Simmons’ ability to make an impact, but as Rodney Garner would say, 10 needs to show up, not 51.
Other than missed offensive holding calls, there’s really not much this group needs to worry about.
