Tennessee football is in need of beefing up its defensive line and has hosted multiple top prospects in an attempt to add talent. One of the latest names to know in the Vols’ search is Francis Brewu from Pitt. According to a report from Chris Hummer, he will visit Knoxville on Jan. 7, and then Notre Dame the following day.
Brewu is coming off his second year, in which he played in all 13 games and was typically a starter. He recorded 36 tackles, seven tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble on the year. PFF gave him a grade of 78.4 on the season through 484 snaps.
As a freshman in 2024, Brewu contributed off the bench for 252 snaps. He earned a PFF grade of 75.5 for that season.
Brewu is from Columbus, Ohio, and played for Thomas Worthington in high school. He was a three-star recruit and the No. 47 defensive lineman in the class, via 247.
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Tennessee is in desperate need of defensive tackles, defensive ends and LEOs. Brewu fits the mold of a defensive tackle, which is going to need to add instant talent to the room.
The Vols return key pieces such as Daevin Hobbs and Nathan Robinson, along with rising sophomore Isaiah Campbell and Ethan Utley. Incoming freshmen include Dereon Albert, Darryl Rivers, JJ Finch and NicQuayvion Simmons.
Other defensive tackle targets UT has been tied to include Xavier Gilliam from Penn State, though Tennessee just missed out on Mateen Ibirogba from Wake Forest to Texas Tech.
Despite a massive overhaul to the defensive staff, including a new defensive coordinator in Jim Knowles and newly hired safeties, cornerbacks and LEOs coaches, the defensive line coach remains Rodney Garner. He has been with the Vols since Josh Heupel got to campus in 2021 and received a new contract to stay in Knoxville.
