Tennessee football’s season opener is just 10 days away and we’re starting to put pen to paper with some preseason predictions. Well, in this case we’re starting to put some predictions out on the airwaves.
The RTI team jumped on the RTI Press Pass Podcast earlier this week to predict Tennessee’s statistical leaders in a number of categories, predict over/unders for certain players stats and to offer up some more takes on the 2025 Vols.
Yesterday we shared our offensive preview and predictions but today is about the defense. Check out our predictions here or listen to us break it all down on the RTI Press Pass Podcast.
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Who Leads Tennessee In Sacks? Over/Under 7.5 Sacks?
Ric: Josh Josephs, Under
Reasoning: I like the depth in Tennessee’s LEO room but there’s some element of see it to believe it. You have Josh Josephs and I think you know what you’re getting from him. He will lead the team in sacks. I think under because, again, there’s a depth element to it. Not that if one guy gets it another guy can’t have a good year.
Schumpert: Josh Josephs, Under
Reasoning: Josephs is the safe bet so I’ll take him. I definitely think he takes a step up from his two sacks a season ago and he’s going to get a ton of snaps because of how strong he is against the run. But I don’t see his ceiling as a pass rusher being super high. I don’t see anyone on this team getting to double-digit sacks. Someone could get eight or so but I will take the under.
Sylvia: Tyre West, Under
Reasoning: I’m so high on Tyre West. I’ve been fooled on him since the Citrus Bowl when he had a really nice game. I thought he was going to be a monster in 2024. He had a good season, but he didn’t reach my really high bar for him. It’s his senior season. The time is up. It’s time for him to make his money. I’ll go under on 7.5 sacks.
Do Multiple Vols Total 5-plus Sacks?
Ric: No
Reasoning: I think all three of Josh Josephs, Caleb Herring and Jordan Ross get multiple sacks but I think five is a high number, especially looking at James Pearce’s 7.5 sacks last season. I do like what Ross can do. He’s my sleeper. My underdog of someone who could be a game changer and game wrecker. He has a freakishly high ceiling.
Schumpert: No
Reasoning: Here’s my take, I don’t think anyone else gets to five besides Josephs. But I think three people get to four. Maybe even more than that. I think Tyre West and Jordan Ross each get four. To me, this is the most important question because Tennessee is replacing both Pearce and Omarr Norman-Lott.
Sylvia: Yes
Reasoning: The sacks are just going to be super spread out. I think West leads the team with like 5.5 sacks and a couple other guys getting five including Josh Josephs, Jordan Ross and maybe a couple other guys.
Who Leads Tennessee In Tackles?
Ric: Arion Carter
Schumpert: Arion Carter
Sylvia: Arion Carter
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Who Leads Tennessee In Interceptions?
Ric: Jermod McCoy
Reasoning: Gibson is probably the right pick because of longevity at the cornerback spot. But I’ll still go with Jermod McCoy. When he does come back, if there’s not a big gap between the interception leader and him, then he could easily erase that gap. He knows how to high point the ball and make plays.
Schumpert: Rickey Gibson
Reasoning: The injury timetable for Jermod McCoy is too uncertain for me to take him. I flirted with taking Jalen McMurray, but Boo Carter possibly getting back and taking snaps from him makes it tough to pick him. I’ll take Gibson. Andre Turrentine would be a sneaky one I could see but before Will Brooks last season, Tennessee’s safeties just haven’t had many interceptions under Tim Banks.
Sylvia: Rickey Gibson
Reasoning: This is the toughest one for me because, like you said, the safety position has not produced a lot of interceptions besides Will Brooks. I kind of ruled them out. I looked to the STAR position and had the same thought about Jalen McMurray and Boo Carter splitting time. The obvious choice is Jermod McCoy but it seems like he is going to miss time. Colton Hood is a good player but does he lose snaps when McCoy comes back? Gibson seems like the most logical choice, but he doesn’t have an interception in his entire career. Still, I settled on Gibson.
Breakout Defensive Player
Ric: Edwin Spillman
Reasoning: I know he’s not going to be a starter behind two extremely strong starters. This feels like a safe breakout answer. Edwin Spillman is a guy that’s hungry, that’s ready to go, who is athletic and has good instincts. When he gets on the field, I don’t think there’s going to be a big drop off.
Schumpert: Rickey Gibson
Reasoning: I think Gibson has an All-SEC type season. He got steadily better as last season went on and was really solid and was very much overlooked because of how good McCoy was. There’s been a lot of buzz around Colton Hood, and for good reason, but Gibson is flying under the radar.
Sylvia: Colton Hood
Reasoning: I don’t think a lot of casual fans who aren’t locked in on the spring transfer window have fully picked up that he’s going to play a lot of football this year. He could be really good. I also had Edrees Farooq listed as a guy that is going to win a safety spot and Tennessee fans are going to like a lot.
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A Defensive Take
Butler: Tennessee finishes Top 5 in turnovers forced this season in the SEC.
Reasoning: The Vols have some ferocious players who are going to be getting after the quarterback this year. Not only does that add a chance to knock down the quarterback or the running back at optimal times, but it could also force some riskier throws into the secondary. Not to mention a couple of veteran linebackers who know where to be on the field.
Schumpert: Edwin Spillman overtakes Jeremiah Telander in snaps by the end of the season
Reasoning: I don’t know if Spillman becomes a starter by the end of the season, but I think he gets more snaps than Telander by the season’s end. It’s no knock against Telander. Spillman just has a higher ceiling.
Sylvia: Boo Carter’s absence would be felt more on special teams than defense
Reasoning: We’ll see what Carter’s status looks like for the start of the season, but it seems like he’s going to be limited. If he is, I think that’s a bigger loss on special teams than defense. Jalen McMurray is more than capable of filling his absence at STAR. With McCoy also sidelined, they’re much more limited at punt returner.
