Previewing Tennessee's Defensive Line

With spring season nearing the home stretch, we take a look at the projected starters on the Tennessee Volunteers defensive line.

Spring season has nearly come and gone for the Tennessee Volunteers, as we are now one week away from the team's Orange and White scrimmage in Neyland Stadium. With electric atmospheres daily and lots of competition, parts of the puzzle may be coming together early on for the Vols. One part of that puzzle is the defensive front. Who are the guys we are going to see this Fall in the trenches? We take a look here.

Tyler Baron, Senior DE

The 6'5" edge rusher enjoyed a season of 6.5 TFLs and 22 total tackles opposite Byron Young in 2022. With Young leaving for the NFL Draft, it is time for Baron to step up into an elevated role up front. After last weekend's initial spring scrimmage, Heupel made a note to mention Baron to the media as someone wreaking constant havoc in the backfield.

Omari Thomas, Senior NT

At 320 pounds in the middle of things, Omari Thomas is a hard guy to miss. The senior racked up 26 tackles and a pair of sacks in 2022, helping stuff guys at the line of scrimmage for the Vols. Thomas will be in between Baron and fellow interior defensive lineman Bryson Eason.

Bryson Eason, RS Junior DT

Eason saw some action in 2022, with 18 tackles and 3.5 TFLs. This year, it will be imperative that he takes the next leap. The good news for Tennessee is some of Eason's biggest production came against top teams, with a TFL and fumble recovery against UGA, half of a sack against LSU, and a pair of tackles in the Orange Bowl.

Roman Harrison, Graduate LEO

Harrison, a veteran, will try and fill the big shoes of Byron Young. Roman saw plenty of action in 2022, with a career-high 36 tackles and new top marks in sacks (3) and TFLs (6). If Harrison can give a fraction of the production the Vols got from Young and add onto last season, the Tennessee defensive front will be a solid unit.

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