Tennessee Defense Preview 2025: The Vols Are Ready to Dominate Even More

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 3:35 AM ET

The offense might get the attention, but it was the nastiness of the defense - along with the running game - that helped carry the Vols to the College Football Playoff.

The pass rush and pressure behind the line were fantastic; few in America were better at generating third down stops, and overall, Tennessee was seventh in the nation in scoring defense and allowed just 447 yards per game.

Here’s the crazy part - there are almost no transfers. It’s a loaded veteran bunch that should dominate again, but …

Tennessee Volunteers Preview 2025: Defense

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2025 Tennessee Preview
Tennessee Offense Breakdown
Season Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season

- The Vols have to find a replacement for leading pass rusher James Pearce. He’s off to the Atlanta Falcons, and now it’s up to the combination of Dominic Bailey, Joshua Josephs, and Tyre West. Josephs should be the best of the bunch - he made 39 tackles with nine tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks - but there’s a good overall group to rotate in.

The tackle combination of Bryson Eason and Jaxson Moi might not get a whole lot of national love, but they’re strong. Moi is a former Stanford transfer whose job is to hold up on the nose, and the 316-pound Eason - a fifth-year senior - has the upside to become a dominant force.

- Jermod McCoy is one of the best players in America, but it might take a bit before he’s all back full after suffering a knee injury. He made 44 tackles with four interceptions and nine broken-up passes from his corner spot, and once he’s back to form, it’s salary-drive time with a massive NFL future ahead.

In the meantime, Colton Hood (Colorado) should make a splash, as one of the few transfers for the defense, likely working on the other side of the terrific Rickey Gibson III.

The safeties aren’t as deep as the corners - losing safeties Jakobe Thomas to Miami and Christian Charles to Colorado didn’t help - but the starting threesome is more than fine around veteran Andrew Turrentine. He made 37 tackles, and Boo Carter is a lightning-quick veteran who gets to the ball in a hurry.

- The veterans are in place at linebacker, and the stats are solid, but more options have to step up. Arion Carter led the team with 68 tackles and broke up six passes with 6.5 tackles for loss. Jeremiah Telander made 43 stops and will do a lot more in the middle, and Edwin Spillman is a terrific prospect with a world of potential somewhere in the corps.

Tennessee Offense Breakdown
2025 Tennessee Preview
Season Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season

This article first appeared on College Football News and was syndicated with permission.

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