Tennessee football is loading up at linebacker. Under position coach William Inge over the past few years, he’s helped bring in elite talent and retained top contributors year after year. This upcoming 2026 season will be no different.
At the top of the room are a pair of seniors, Arion Carter and Penn State transfer Amare Campbell. Another senior contributor is expected to be Jeremiah Telander, who will likely rotate in off the bench under Inge and new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
However, even when those three seniors move on after this year, Tennessee’s linebacker room is still in a terrific spot. Edwin Spillman has starting potential entering his redshirt-sophomore year, and Jadon Perlotte just impressed as a true freshman a year ago. Mix those in with other returners, Jordan Burns and Jaedon Harmon, and the room is extremely deep and experienced.
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Inge is mixing in young talent, as well, though. In the 2026 class, he signed a pair of highly-touted recruits. Both four-stars and top-five players at the position, Brayden Rouse and TJ White looked strong in spring camp ahead of their freshman years.
Now, Inge is adding more talent for the 2027 cycle. He’s held the commitment of three-star legacy recruit JP Peace for a year now, but just added another top prospect on Saturday. Also a legacy, Kenneth Simon II flipped from Alabama to the Vols as a four-star recruit and top-10 linebacker in the class.
This means next year’s team will also be absolutely loaded at the position. With potential returns of Spillman, Perlotte, Burns, Harmon, Rouse and White, the addition of Simon and Peace and possible transfer portal additions, the unit is shaping up to be as strong as any for Tennessee’s defense, not just this season, but for the long-term future.
