Defensive line
Leo
1. (6) Byron Young (Sr., 6-3/245)
2. (30) Roman Harrison (Sr., 6-2/244)
3. (19) Joshua Josephs (Fr., 6-3/221) OR (27) James Pearce Jr. (Fr., 6-5/220)
Defensive tackle
1. (99) Kurott Garland (R-Sr., 6-3/310) OR (20) Bryson Eason (R-Soph., 6-3/300)
2. (50) Jordan Phillips (Fr., 6-2/295) OR (88) Amari McNeill (R-Fr., 6-4/285)
Defensive tackle
1. (21) Omari Thomas (Jr., 6-4/320)
2. (51) Elijah Simmons (R-Jr., 6-2/340) OR (95) Da’Jon Terry (R-Jr., 6-4/321)
Defensive end
1. (9) Tyler Baron (Jr., 6-5/260) OR (11) LaTrell Bumphus (R-Sr.*, 6-3/290)
2. (90) Dominic Bailey (R-Soph., 6-3/270)
3. (42) Tyre West (Fr., 6-3/290)
Tennessee against Kentucky rolled with the same starting defensive line (Young, Thomas, Terry and Bumphus) for the fourth straight game, and the second unit consisted of Harrison, Eason, Garland and Baron. Young and Harrison each played 33 snaps, followed by Eason (28), Baron (28), Bumphus (24), Thomas (21), Terry (20) and Garland (20). Also getting rotational snaps were Bailey (18), Josephs (11), West (eight) and Simmons (eight), who left the UT Martin game.
The defensive line is leading the way for a unit that ranks ninth in the FBS in run defense (allowing 92.9 yards per game) and fourth in the SEC in sacks (21), but veteran defensive line coach Rodney Garner continues to push his group going into the huge challenge against Georgia’s imposing offensive line.
“We have good games, he comes in and he tells us how proud he is of us,” Thomas said. “He coaches us up every week. No matter how good we play, he’s always going to have a better standard for us, and that’s what you want. You never want to be satisfied, and Coach G’s never satisfied. We’re never satisfied as a defensive line room and we just always want to continue to get better every week. He pushes us every week to get better.”
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