John Mincey, DL
The front seven is arguably the most important unit of a 3-4 defensive scheme. Linebackers have to versatile and defend both the pass and run, and the defensive line needs to absorb blockers and also be disruptive. So when the Vols were able to steal John Mincey away from South Carolina, Tennessee’s coaches were probably very excited.
Mincey may have only been the 798th overall player in the 2018 class, but his ceiling is far higher.
Though he played mainly defensive end in high school, it’s expected 2018 will be a redshirt year for Mincey as coaches try and move him inside to play tackle. He played both positions in high school, and he was effective at both. Mincey isn’t your typical three-star lineman; he played basketball as well and was wanted by several big programs such as Auburn, Arkansas, LSU, Florida State, Florida, and others.
The returns may take a couple seasons for Mincey, but I fully expect those results to be impressive once he finally has the weight needed to play inside on Tennessee’s defensive line.
