Tennessee football signed seven offseason transfers and 22 freshmen enrollees for the upcoming season. We’ve already touched on the top 25 most important returning players from last year’s team, now let’s touch on who among these new additions could make an immediate impact for the Big Orange come fall.
Coming in at No. 11 is freshman defensive lineman Tyre West.
Old Ways
Tyre West was the surprise of the class last year for Tennessee fans (And head coach Josh Heupel).
West committed to Tennessee on National Signing Day, decommitting from his home state school of Georgia to Join Rodney Garner’s unit in the Orange and White. He stands at 6-foot-3, 290 pounds and is a force in the middle of the field.
He was ranked as the No. 165 player in the nation, the No. 23 defensive lineman and the No. 19 prospect from the state of Georgia in the Class of 2021 rankings. He decommitted from Georgia, but also held offers from Florida State, Texas A&M, Oregon, Arkansas and Texas to name just a few.
Here’s what Huepel said following West’s commitment to Tennessee over Florida State after decommitting from the Bulldogs:
“There was great trust with who we are and the plan we have for him to develop as a young man and as a player. Tyre has a ton of upside. They trusted us and believed in Tennessee.”
West could be a household name for Tennessee fans for a few years to come.
New Beginnings
West is one of few freshmen on the team this upcoming season that could make a legitimate push for playing time. The Vols will be without a rock-solid interior defensive lineman with the departure of Matthew Butler to the NFL, and West has already shown he has the ability to make a difference.
His first step has been raved about during his time in high school. He’s a true pass rusher in every sense of the word.
And boy, does Tennessee need a dominant interior defensive lineman in a big way. Quarterbacks last season were allowed to do pretty much whatever they pleased, especially the more mobile passers such as Matt Corral and Bryce Young. The best way the Vols can alleviate pressure on a shaky secondary is for guys like West to make an immediate impact.
It would be surprising for West to not see the field at all in 2022.
