Should Vol Fans Be Worried About the Defensive Line?

By: Dallas Bowlin

Senior Staff Writer/Editor/Host

All Vol Call In Show

Graphic | Dallas Bowlin

There has been some news coming out of fall camp that has some Tennessee fans with their antennas raised regarding the play of the team's defensive line.

Veteran defensive line coach Rodney Garner mentioned last Wednesday, August 12, that the unit has been “inconsistent.”

“Just coming out of yesterday, just been very inconsistent,” Garner said. “You have a good day, you have a bad day. Obviously, you’re not moving the needle when you’re going up and down. Can’t have those roller coaster moments, and like I told them this morning in the meeting, we got to be climbing that mountain every day. We can’t take steps backwards.”

However, head coach Josh Heupel offered some encouraging words about the defensive line following the team's closed scrimmage on Saturday, August 15.

“Some real positives. Defensive line, applying some pressure to the quarterback in particular early in the scrimmage. Offensive line, I thought the run game grew throughout the scrimmage. Getting everybody on the same page. All 11 on a unit. Four guys on the defensive line operating as one. That’s in defending the run game and affecting the quarterback. And then offensively, obviously, all five and our tight ends and backs.”

Despite Heupel's positive words, some fans still have concerns. And while those concerns most likely won’t be proven true or false until Georgia Tech at the earliest (please, don’t have trouble against Furman. Thanks), we can look at some numbers to see just how consistently productive Rodney Garner-coached defensive lines have been. 

Tennessee has consistently produced elite numbers under Garner. In three of the past four seasons, the Vols have finished in the top 15 nationally in tackles for loss and the top 25 in rushing defense. The lone exception came in 2025, when Tennessee fell to 73rd nationally in rushing defense. 

Individually, Garner has consistently produced NFL talent along the defensive line at Tennessee and at his previous stops. During his time in Knoxville, six defensive linemen he coached have been selected in the NFL Draft: Matthew Butler (fifth round, 2022), Byron Young (third round, 2023), Omarr Norman-Lott (second round, 2025), James Pearce Jr. (first round, 2025), Tyre West (seventh round, 2026) and Joshua Josephs (fifth round, 2026). 

The proof is in the pudding. Until we see with our own two eyes a defensive line that struggles to create havoc, I choose to trust Rodney Garner and his elite track record of creating defensive lines that produce.