Impact Analysis: What Does Edwin Spillman Bring To Rocky Top?
Tennessee landed one of its top-standing targets on Friday, four-star inside linebacker Edwin Spillman. He plays for Lipscomb High School, a Nashville program with an outstanding track record of developing defenders and sending them to the collegiate level. He's the latest SEC defender to emerge from Nashville, Tennessee, and he will join his teammate Kaleb Beasley on Rocky Top.
Many made a big deal about the off-field connections between Tennessee and Spillman, which we won't delve into here. The reason is that Spillman, the player, fits Tennessee just as well as Spillman, the person, does. He has put together three years of high school tape, and Tennessee has come away with a really strong player.
2024 ILB Edwin Spillman during a photoshoot at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 22, 2023. (Photo by Nicole Hester of The Tennessean)
Prospect: Edwin Spillman
Projected Position: MIKE Linebacker
Vitals: 6-2 and 215 pounds
School: Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, Tennessee)
Frame: A really long build with a thick upper half. Spillman probably plays at 225 pounds in college, and it would be nice to see him fill out the rest of his lower body. Strong hands with the length to attack blocks. Gets good drive through his shoulders when engaging with blockers but has retained the athleticism to bend around if need be. One of the better body types in Tennessee's linebacker room immediately in two senses of the word: he should be ready for practices right away, but his long-term physical ceiling is quite high.
Athleticism: An excellent downhill mover. When Spillman sticks his foot in the ground and decides to work upfield, he can be the fastest player on the football field. His first step isn't lightning fast, but he separates himself with lateral agility. Spillman covers a lot of ground for Lipscomb, and the coaching staff only asks him to do that because they know he can. Tape can tell us so much, but the fact that Lipscomb, a nationally ranked program with a sterling reputation and strong options at every position, decides to use him in that capacity tells me all I need to know.
Instincts: A student of the game. Lipscomb gives Spillman a lot of responsibilities in presnap and in postsnap - they know that he can get everyone in the right check and adjust from there. The spacial awareness is impressive, and he reads route concepts well, but Spillman's instincts are more than that. He recognizes offensive formations well; a lot of defense is film study and guesswork. "I know they do this on tape, but a play I watched said they could scheme in this concept of it." Those thoughts and instincts determine football games - Lipscomb lets Spillman make those determinations, and they win many football games.
Polish: Spillman looks like he was born to play MIKE linebacker for Tennessee. His development track, physical profile, and work ethic all align with what linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary wants in a MIKE. His fit in Tennessee's system was a driving factor in why he picked the Vols over Ohio State - the transition from high school to college will be easier than most.
Bottom Line: Tennessee invested a lot of energy in his recruitment from the beginning, and it's paid off. Spillman will walk into Knoxville, Tennessee, fresh off a productive four-year stint with the top program in the state. He's an SEC-level linebacker that could see time early in his career, possibly in an extended role by the 2025 season.
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