A big x-factor for Tennessee in 2022 will be the defense, a unit that left a bad taste in everyone’s mouths coming out of the Music City Bowl loss to Purdue. However, the Volunteers got surprising production from the front seven one season ago, likely a direct result of the coaching of defensive line coach Rodney Garner.
Garner was a no-brainer hire for Josh Heupel, who needed a few guys with deep SEC ties. More than that, Garner’s track record is second to none. Instantly, Tennessee ranked among the best in college football in tackles for loss — that’s no coincidence.