Tennessee football is preparing for the upcoming season with some position groups projected to be among the best and deepest in the country, and others filled with question marks.
One of the top position groups on the roster is the linebacker room. Not only is it deep, but the unit has real star power at the top, as well, with multiple starting-level players projected to come off the bench.
CBS agrees. In the publication’s 2026 college football superteam made by position rooms, the linebacker position was given to the Vols over any other team in the country.
“The Volunteers have the deepest linebacker unit in the country,” CBS’s Chris Hummer wrote. “For example, Edwin Spillman (81) and Jeremiah Telander (80) led Tennessee in tackles last year and are back in 2026. Yet there’s a real chance neither starts due to the presence of Arion Carter — an expected draft pick who returned to school because of injury — and Penn State transfer Amare Campbell, a four-star addition out of the portal who’s totaled 179 tackles, 20 TFLs and 9.5 sacks over the past two seasons…”
We built a CFB superteam at @CBSSports.
11 position groups. No repeat teams.
What’d we get right and what’d we get wrong? https://t.co/fUzolatgsa pic.twitter.com/QyMnX6gX8q
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) July 7, 2026
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The projected starters for Tennessee are returning star Arion Carter and incoming Penn State transfer Amare Campbell. However, Edwin Spillman, Jeremiah Telander and Jadon Perlotte all played a good amount in 2025, as well, and will play a big role. That’s not to mention other returners Jaedon Harmon and Jordan Burns or incoming freshmen Brayden Rouse and TJ White.
“The one thing we’re always trying to do is we’re trying to find what we call ‘healthy solutions’,” linebackers coach William Inge said in the spring. “So, we have to, as a staff and obviously myself as the leader of the group, make sure we find the best tight-knit unit. Who can do what from a practice standpoint, but also what combinations of guys, who can play well together, how do they play together and who can play what respective positions? So yes, it’s a very good problem, but that’s our challenge in coaching and for everyone in the room. Our responsibility is to get Tennessee football to where we can be in position to play for and win a championship and I’m just one of the pawns doing our job.”
Tennessee will be represented by two of these linebackers at SEC Media Days on Monday, as well. Carter and Telander are making the trip with head coach Josh Heupel and running back DeSean Bishop to preview the 2026 season.
