Tennessee Football: 7 Players Sure to Surprise at Fall Camp

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dduncan4163

dduncan4163

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Tennessee Football: 7 Players Sure to Surprise at Fall Camp | Bleacher Report

Kyle Phillips, Defensive End

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Credit: GoVols247



Sticking on the defensive front, a lot of folks may have forgotten about former top-shelf recruit Kyle Phillips after a season-ending injury cut his first season in Knoxville short.
Before that, the start to Phillips' Tennessee career was puzzling at best. Though he dominated the high school level at defensive end, including showing out in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, where he pledged to the Vols, UT used him a lot at defensive tackle.
While Phillips was beginning to fill into that role as a pass-rushing interior lineman in rabbit packages, it seemed that he was playing out of position. After missing this spring recovering from shoulder surgery, the 6'4", 259-pound end is back and ready for a fresh start under Shoop.
Hopefully for UT, he'll be the player Jones thought he would be when he told former FoxSports.com writer Michael W. Bratton before Phillips' freshman year:
Well first of all, he has a great skill set in terms of length. He's very long, he has a very, very large wingspan, so he bends exceptionally well, and he can flat out run. He has a tenacity about himself. He plays with a relentless approach to get to the football. You know, when you look at his size, you look at his frame, you look at his length, and the ability to make himself skinny and small coming off the edge, a burst on his get-off, we're very encouraged and excited about him.
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That ability hasn't gone anywhere. The Nashville native could be an electrifying player for the Vols, and he too gives UT the same versatility as Mixon and Kongbo.
Yes, Phillips may want to play the majority of his snaps on the edge, but a guy such as former Vol Malik Jackson is making a bunch of money in the NFL due to his versatility.
Phillips will play where he's needed, but the nation's former fourth-rated strong-side defensive end will certainly be relied upon this season. Most likely, that will be coming off the edge. That's where the Vols just happen to be loaded.


Kyle is my pick out of this group. He has all the tools to be a superstar and I expect him to explode under Shoop
 
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#2
#2
Brandon Johnson is my pick. But it wouldn't be a surprise, like Kongbo.

Bring on Appy St.
 
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#4
How'd you like to be an opposing OT on our schedule knowing every play from our defensive edge is going to be from a highly touted and talented guy, no let up, relentless, every freakin' play? I actually expect our defense this year to be better the longer the game goes barring major injuries.
 
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#6
#6
Guards: Robertson, Wiesman, J. Jones, Boulware, Sanders, C Mosley, Edwards, Adams...I can see why Raulerson transferred.

Tackles: Hall, Richmond, Kendrick, Tatum, Niehaus.

I wonder if we shouldn't give C. Mosley another look at DT? especially on obvious running plays.
 
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#8
#8
HuntlandVolinColo said:
Guards: Robertson, Wiesman, J. Jones, Boulware, Sanders, C Mosley, Edwards, Adams...I can see why Raulerson transferred.

Tackles: Hall, Richmond, Kendrick, Tatum, Niehaus.

I wonder if we shouldn't give C. Mosley another look at DT? especially on obvious running plays.
Click to expand...

Don't forget Ryan Johnson as well. I think him Tatum and Niehaus will take redshirts but I think that Johnson is the most likely out of the three to get playing time this year.
 
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#11
#11
Kyle Phillips is going to become a unstoppable Beast.

King Kongbo is big enough now to become a very fast, tricky DT to push the pocket from the inside on obvious passing downs.

Kyle and Kongbo on 1 side together will be hell to try to block.

We'll soon become known as D Line U.

When King Tut gets back to 100% Shoop will have so many D line options he'll dance to the stadium on game day.

D Wins Championships and we're going to become damn hard to score against.

Building a Champion WIN by WIN...VFL...GBO!!!
 
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