Tennessee football has plenty of holes to fill on defense under new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. One of them is the interior of the defensive line, which has already seen the addition of Penn State transfer Xavier Gilliam.
However, on Tuesday afternoon, Pitt defensive tackle transfer Francis Brewu committed to Notre Dame, according to On3. He took a visit to Knoxville last Wednesday to see the Vols, before following it up with a trip to South Bend to check out the Irish on Thursday. He then went to Ohio State the following weekend.
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 was in need of defensive tackles, defensive ends and LEOs heading into the portal period. The Vols have added Gilliam on the interior and edge rushers Chaz Coleman from Penn State and Jordan Norman from Tulane so far.
The Vols return key pieces such as Daevin Hobbs and Nathan Robinson, along with rising sophomores Isaiah Campbell and Ethan Utley at defensive tackle, as well. Incoming freshmen include Dereon Albert, Darryl Rivers, JJ Finch and NicQuayvion Simmons.
Despite a massive overhaul to the defensive staff, including a new defensive coordinator in 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.
UT and Garner also missed out on Texas A&M interior defensive lineman Jealyn Evans on Tuesday, but Walter Mathis Jr. from LSU remains on the board.
