10. DT Dimarya Mixon
He’s been right on the cusp of more playing time all season – generally working as the fourth or fifth defensive tackle and getting a few snaps here and there as the Vols have tried to patch together a defensive tackle rotation on a roster that’s short in that area. A lot of people forget that he sat out of all football in 2013 after originally signing with Nebraska, so this has been somewhat of a catch-up year for him.
He may not play a ton in the TaxSlayer Bowl as Trevarris Saulsberry likely returns to the rotation, but with senior Jordan Williams set to move on, there’s some playing time to be had going forward. But he’ll be pushed by what looks like it will be one of the best defensive line classes in the country coming in for the Vols, so he’ll need to bulk up (currently at 282) and really learn the scheme to have an edge on those new guys.
