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2020 Unit Rankings – Linebackers

Joel Hollingsworth
Henry To'oTo'o

So far, here’s where the Vols’ units have ranked in the SEC heading into the 2020 season:

Today, we’ll look at the linebackers.

2020 SEC Linebacker Rankings

The Georgia Bulldogs didn’t just have the SEC’s best defense last season, they had the nation’s third-best defense, holding opponents to an average of only 276 yards per game. That accomplishment was due in large part to an elite linebacking corps, and most of it is back for more this fall. They’ll miss Tae Crowder, but there’s an entire fleet of elite guys returning, including starters Monty Rice and Azeez Ojulari. They also added MJ Sherman (GSEC25) to the mix this year.
2019 Total Defense (in yards per game) Returning Production Unit Recruiting Ranking
1 Sacks TFLs Tackles
276 17.5 26 248 1

2019 Total Defense (in yards per game) Returning Production Unit Recruiting Ranking The Aggies return 99% of their linebacker production in 2020, including Anthony Hines III and Buddy Johnson.
Sacks TFLs Tackles
2 340 5 25.5 185 6
2019 Total Defense (in yards per game) Returning Production Unit Recruiting Ranking Kash Daniel is gone, but this unit is in good hands with starters DeAndre Square and Jamar Watson leading the way.
Sacks TFLs Tackles
3 322 12 26 223 8
2019 Total Defense (in yards per game) Returning Production Unit Recruiting Ranking Auburn returns 94% of its linebacker production this fall, including K.J. Britt, Zakoby McClain, and Owen Pappoe.
Sacks TFLs Tackles
4 337 6 28 230 7

Rank Team 2019 Total Defense (in yards per game) Returning Production Unit Recruiting Ranking
Sacks TFLs Tackles
5 Florida 305 17.5 31.5 190 4
6 Alabama 324 6 20.5 198 2
7 Missouri 312 1.5 12.5 185 14
8 Tennessee 334 7.5 18.5 166 5
9 Mississippi 417 12 27.5 260 13
10 LSU 344 5.5 9 85 3
11 Vanderbilt 437 9.5 29.5 277 10
12 Arkansas 451 2.5 14 174 9
13 Mississippi State 399 1.5 6 97 10
14 South Carolina 393 1.5 16 170 12

Additional comments

There’s not much to see here for Vols fans except to note that replacing Daniel Bituli and Darrell Taylor is probably Job One for the defense this season.

You may recall that we have Georgia’s defensive line ranked No. 1, too, adding fuel to our belief that as good as the Bulldogs’ defense was last year, it could be even better this year. It’s also interesting to note that Georgia’s sacks generally come from the ‘backers rather than the linemen.

Oh, and look. There’s Kentucky again.

Your thoughts

What do y’all think? Where did we get it right? Where are we wrong?

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