Tennessee coach Josh Heupel may need a few men up front on the offensive line. However, his cup runneth over on defense.
The Vols’ head coach promised he’d play several defensive players before the season, especially on the line. However, I had my doubts. No, I didn’t doubt Heupel specifically, but I’ve seen many coaches say they would go deep into their roster only to see them shorten the rotation once the season began.
Why? Because, understandably, coaches have a little bit more faith in their starters with the game on the line. That’s why they’re starters, right? Well, not in this case.
There’s another reason I wondered if Heupel meant it when he said the Vols would play as many as 10 defensive linemen frequently in games this season. There have been many coaches say as much to make sure the backups are working hard when – and if – their opportunity comes around. Saying that you’ll play multiple players is good for morale and can be used in recruiting. I wondered if there might be a narrative in place.
That certainly hasn’t been the case this season.
Tennessee has played a plethora of defensive linemen this season. That’s not even counting the three blowouts in which Smokey could have probably gotten in the game had he begged hard enough.
Heupel has proven he’s not afraid to play young and less experienced defensive linemen when it matters, such as throughout the Oklahoma game that the Vols won 25-15, in large part, due to their defensive front which played a dozen players on the defensive line in a game that was never out of reach for the Sooners.
One of those players was a huge, pleasant surprise in Norman. Sophomore Jayson Jenkins had 1 1/2-tackles for a loss against Oklahoma. Before that, Jenkins had just one tackle, against Chattanooga, in just 13 snaps played this season. Heupel said consistency has been the key for the former three-star prospect from New Jersey.
“He’s done an unbelievable job of continuing to invest every single day,” Heupel said. “When you invest, it may not always be your time, but you are going to cash it in at some point and he made a huge play in the football game. Last week, he played extremely well when he was out there. We have great confidence in him.”
That big play was a safety he rang up against Oklahoma when the Sooners’ were pinned back on their own 2-yard line. Jenkins knew the opportunity in front of him when the play developed. His family, watching from back home in New Jersey, couldn’t call the 6-foo-6, 281 pounder fast enough.
“My family didn’t make it all the way out to the Midwest, but my mom immediately after the game gave me a call and they were all on the phone,” Jenkins said. “All my family was watching from New Jersey. They were all proud of me and everything.”
So was Tennessee’s fan base.
