Can Tennessee's DTs Survive UGA?

#2
#2
We have a whole season to play. Not just UGA.

If I were Heupel I’m trying to fix it now and later.

Emmanuel Okoye will never see the field.
He’s 6’5” 250 lbs.
Kind of like how everyone felt about Nate Robinson. That’s a big athletic kid with a lot of burst. I would play him on 3rd down and long at DT- just to get used to it, and have him add the weight starting right now. Doesn’t need moves at DT, he just needs to learn to battle and hold his ground for 25 snaps.

Same with Marion Dye. Hes already 6’5” 265.

You all think we’re hurting now. We lose
Eason
Moi
Bailey
West

We’ll be okay this season, even though it looks like it could get bad.
- Move Okoye and Dye to DT.
- portal for a SDE and DT
- have the 2025 DT class try to break strength records during the offseason
 
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#4
#4
titansvolsfaninga said:
This is stupid. Show me 1 team with zero injuries.
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The issue is lack of depth and quality size at the DT position. I'm trying to figure out why the Vols don't have 4/5 DTs on roster that are above these measurables: 6'3"+ and 315 lbs+

How did UT end up so thin, in the literal sense at DT?

It does seem that nearly all UT commits are DEs. The Vols have 74 DEs
 
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#6
#6
Is Moi expected to play against UGA? Or is the elbow going to cause him to miss a few weeks? I would definitely feel much better if he was available along with Eason, Bailey, West, Robinson, and Wallace.
 
#7
#7
madbamahater said:
The issue is lack of depth and quality size at the DT position. I'm trying to figure out why the Vols don't have 4/5 DTs on roster that are above these measurables: 6'3"+ and 315 lbs+

How did UT end up so thin, in the literal sense at DT?

It does seem that nearly all UT commits are DEs. The Vols have 74 DEs
Click to expand...
Coaches recruited who they recruited. There are DTs on the roster. If the coaches recruited them and accepted their commitment, they should play. I counted 14 DTs on the roster. 1 is hurt, so that leaves 13. If they're not going to play more of the 13, that's coaches decision.
 
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#8
#8
1st game of the season, real vicious hitting has started. Give the bodies time to get adjusted to it. Trench guys take a beating. Hopefully they can recover this week and no one else inside gets hurt.
As for the portal, you will never keep a good HS recruit if you continue to bring in portal guys. Top tier DTs are rare in the portal. Schools know their value and pay them accordingly.
 
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#9
#9
Quality DTs are always hard to come by…by my eye, we have 8 non seniors on this years roster who have the size to play DT - guys who hopefully return next year

Freshmen DTs
Campbell 6’4” 290
Utley 6’4” 285
House 6’3” 290
Gray 6’3” 288

Sophomore DTs
Robinson 6’6” 300

Junior DTs
Hobbs 6’4” 290
Wallace 6’3” 310
Helsdon 6’4” 290

We have 24 commitments for the ‘26 class - would love to flip a 5 star DT who could come in make the rotation next year. We’ll definitely be looking at beefing up some LBs and Edge guys as well as doing some portal shopping.
 
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#10
#10
DT room is definitely undersized.

Puzzling why the staff didn’t pursue another DT harder in the portal or maybe they did and I just don’t recall? I don’t think Shell helps a lot this season.

Seems like CJH, CTB, and CRG are recruiting (signing) a lot edge and SDE. Maybe their plan is to convert some to DT?

Group May be OK if Moi and Eason, along with Hobbs get healthy.

IMO need 2 DT from the portal this recruiting cycle.
 
#11
#11
PEPPERJAX said:
Is Moi expected to play against UGA? Or is the elbow going to cause him to miss a few weeks? I would definitely feel much better if he was available along with Eason, Bailey, West, Robinson, and Wallace.
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Some suggest Moi might have had a season ending injury but that info is alway held tightly to the vest by the staff. I hope it’s Not that major and he can be back for Georgia. I’m not sure if Hobbs will be back for Georgia.
 
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#13
#13
Sarms58 said:
Some suggest Moi might have had a season ending injury but that info is alway held tightly to the vest by the staff. I hope it’s Not that major and he can be back for Georgia. I’m not sure if Hobbs will be back for Georgia.
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Not one person has suggested Moi’s injury is long-term. Not one.
 
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#15
#15
madbamahater said:
The issue is lack of depth and quality size at the DT position. I'm trying to figure out why the Vols don't have 4/5 DTs on roster that are above these measurables: 6'3"+ and 315 lbs+

How did UT end up so thin, in the literal sense at DT?

It does seem that nearly all UT commits are DEs. The Vols have 74 DEs
Click to expand...
They’ve focused too much on signing an interior DL that can rush the passer rather than a true replacement for Omari Thomas that can chew up gaps. Charles House can probably be that guy in a year or two, but this year could be extremely frustrating by Halloween
 
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#22
#22
This thread makes my brain hurt. Okoye to Defensive Tackle? lolol
Sarms58 said:
Quality DTs are always hard to come by…by my eye, we have 8 non seniors on this years roster who have the size to play DT - guys who hopefully return next year

Freshmen DTs
Campbell 6’4” 290
Utley 6’4” 285
House 6’3” 290
Gray 6’3” 288

Sophomore DTs
Robinson 6’6” 300

Junior DTs
Hobbs 6’4” 290
Wallace 6’3” 310
Helsdon 6’4” 290

We have 24 commitments for the ‘26 class - would love to flip a 5 star DT who could come in make the rotation next year. We’ll definitely be looking at beefing up some LBs and Edge guys as well as doing some portal shopping.
Click to expand...
Hobbs, Utley, Robinson, Campbell is a high ceiling foursome for next year. Add a transfer or two and maybe we get something out of Wallace and House for depth. Dereon Albert is 300+ and Darryl Rivers could easily be 290+ by next year. In Garner and Hobby I trust.
 
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#23
#23
madbamahater said:
The issue is lack of depth and quality size at the DT position. I'm trying to figure out why the Vols don't have 4/5 DTs on roster that are above these measurables: 6'3"+ and 315 lbs+

How did UT end up so thin, in the literal sense at DT?

It does seem that nearly all UT commits are DEs. The Vols have 74 DEs
Click to expand...
Ohio State (currently ranked #1 in AP poll and reigning national champ) only has one defensive lineman on the entire roster over 305 lbs.
 
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