A couple of comments based on the PFF #'s from last year:
McKenzie is going to be missed more than most people think. Gaulden will also be missed, Jumper not so much. Please, someone, anyone beat Abernathy out at the Safety position. Not fast enough and takes bad angles, not a good combination.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
3. Kahlil McKenzie: 78.7 (439 plays)
10. Alexis Johnson: 69.6 (189 plays)
17. Shy Tuttle: 50.6 (267 plays)
18. Quay Picou: 48.8 (107 plays)
21. Kendal Vickers: 48.1 (632 plays)
25. Kivon Bennett: 47.2 (14 plays)
DEFENSIVE END
6. Darrell Taylor: 76.1 (483 plays)
8. Jonathan Kongbo: 72.2 (598 plays)
11. Kyle Phillips: 69.1 (532 plays)
14. Deandre Johnson: 52.1 (56 plays)
19. Matthew Butler: 48.2 (87 plays)
LINEBACKER
4. Daniel Bituli: 78.5 (500 plays)
7. Quart'e Sapp: 74.7 (447 plays)
13. Will Ignont: 58.9 (27 plays)
16. Cortez McDowell: 50.8 (163 plays)
22. Elliott Berry: 48.0 (250 plays)
28. Colton Jumper: 42.9 (568 plays)
CORNERBACK
1. Rashaan Gaulden: 84.1 (696 plays)
9. Emmanuel Moseley: 71.4 (634 plays)
15. Baylen Buchanan: 51.4 (50 plays)
23. Marquill Osborne: 47.9 (36 plays)
24. Justin Martin: 47.5 (544 plays)
26. Shawn Shamburger: 44.9 (118 plays)
27. Shaq Wiggins: 43.3 (294 plays)
SAFETY
2. Nigel Warrior: 81.0 (822 plays)
5. Todd Kelly Jr.: 76.2 (59 plays)
12. Theo Jackson: 69.0 (47 plays)
20. Micah Abernathy: 48.1 (760 plays)
NOTES: Gaulden's phenomenal season wound up with him grading out the seventh-highest among SEC cornerbacks behind duos from Auburn (Jamel Dean and Javaris Davis), Georgia (Deandre Baker and Aaron Davis) and LSU (Andraez Williams and Donte Jackson).
The junior's run-defense grade was fourth-highest at his position. His coverage grade was the seventh-highest among SEC corners.
Rashaan Gaulden (left) and Nigel Warrior (Photo: Danny Parker, 247Sports)
Warrior's grade was the ninth-highest among SEC safeties who played at least 100 snaps on the season, further quantifying how well he played during his breakout sophomore season. Warrior was impressively durable as well. His 822 snaps were the third-most among SEC defensive players behind only South Carolina defensive backs Jamarcus King and Chris Lammons.
Speaking of breakout sophomore seasons, Bituli's lofty grade ranked 12th among all SEC linebackers, and his run-defense grade (80.6) ranked ninth in the league.
McKenzie's grade ranked 20th among SEC defensive tackles and he had a top-15 run-defense grade (80.8).
The veteran Vickers played more snaps than any other SEC defensive tackle.
In addition to losing starter McDowell and key contributor Kelly in September, the Vols also didn't have linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. for the entire season.
McKenzie is going to be missed more than most people think. Gaulden will also be missed, Jumper not so much. Please, someone, anyone beat Abernathy out at the Safety position. Not fast enough and takes bad angles, not a good combination.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
3. Kahlil McKenzie: 78.7 (439 plays)
10. Alexis Johnson: 69.6 (189 plays)
17. Shy Tuttle: 50.6 (267 plays)
18. Quay Picou: 48.8 (107 plays)
21. Kendal Vickers: 48.1 (632 plays)
25. Kivon Bennett: 47.2 (14 plays)
DEFENSIVE END
6. Darrell Taylor: 76.1 (483 plays)
8. Jonathan Kongbo: 72.2 (598 plays)
11. Kyle Phillips: 69.1 (532 plays)
14. Deandre Johnson: 52.1 (56 plays)
19. Matthew Butler: 48.2 (87 plays)
LINEBACKER
4. Daniel Bituli: 78.5 (500 plays)
7. Quart'e Sapp: 74.7 (447 plays)
13. Will Ignont: 58.9 (27 plays)
16. Cortez McDowell: 50.8 (163 plays)
22. Elliott Berry: 48.0 (250 plays)
28. Colton Jumper: 42.9 (568 plays)
CORNERBACK
1. Rashaan Gaulden: 84.1 (696 plays)
9. Emmanuel Moseley: 71.4 (634 plays)
15. Baylen Buchanan: 51.4 (50 plays)
23. Marquill Osborne: 47.9 (36 plays)
24. Justin Martin: 47.5 (544 plays)
26. Shawn Shamburger: 44.9 (118 plays)
27. Shaq Wiggins: 43.3 (294 plays)
SAFETY
2. Nigel Warrior: 81.0 (822 plays)
5. Todd Kelly Jr.: 76.2 (59 plays)
12. Theo Jackson: 69.0 (47 plays)
20. Micah Abernathy: 48.1 (760 plays)
NOTES: Gaulden's phenomenal season wound up with him grading out the seventh-highest among SEC cornerbacks behind duos from Auburn (Jamel Dean and Javaris Davis), Georgia (Deandre Baker and Aaron Davis) and LSU (Andraez Williams and Donte Jackson).
The junior's run-defense grade was fourth-highest at his position. His coverage grade was the seventh-highest among SEC corners.
Rashaan Gaulden (left) and Nigel Warrior (Photo: Danny Parker, 247Sports)
Warrior's grade was the ninth-highest among SEC safeties who played at least 100 snaps on the season, further quantifying how well he played during his breakout sophomore season. Warrior was impressively durable as well. His 822 snaps were the third-most among SEC defensive players behind only South Carolina defensive backs Jamarcus King and Chris Lammons.
Speaking of breakout sophomore seasons, Bituli's lofty grade ranked 12th among all SEC linebackers, and his run-defense grade (80.6) ranked ninth in the league.
McKenzie's grade ranked 20th among SEC defensive tackles and he had a top-15 run-defense grade (80.8).
The veteran Vickers played more snaps than any other SEC defensive tackle.
In addition to losing starter McDowell and key contributor Kelly in September, the Vols also didn't have linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. for the entire season.
