Tennessee’s linebacker room has generated plenty of buzz this offseason, ignited by the return of Arion Carter. The Volunteers didn’t exactly need another number in the room, but they weren’t going to turn Carter away after he reversed his decision to enter the 2026 NFL Draft.
Penn State veteran Amare Campbell joins him at the position, following his defensive coordinator to Knoxville.
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And yet, maybe the most physically gifted player in the room sits on the depth chart beneath those two veterans. Jadon Perlotte, a former 4-star prospect entering his second season with Tennessee, turned plenty of heads down the stretch of last season. His speed brought a completely different element to the defense, which forced his way onto the field in some sub-package situations.
“Just him continuing to learn,” linebackers coach William Inge said on Wednesday of Perlotte. “As you get into, let’s say, Year 1, it’s always going to be knowledge and understanding, you learning everything. Well, now you go into Year 2, now this is truly going to be about performance enhancement and understanding how to take care of your body and take care of your team.”
Perlotte, like the rest of the linebackers not named Amare Campbell, will be learning a new defensive system under Jim Knowles. The 6-4, 210 pound Peach State product posted 13 tackles, one tackle for loss, two fumble recoveries and a quarterback hurry as a true freshman. Perlotte appeared in every game last season, but really made his presence felt late in the year with added playing time.
He possesses some things you can’t teach, like elite athleticism. Watch the ground he covers here chasing down Taylen Green. Green ran a 4.3 at the NFL Combine, for reference.
“So that’s what it’s going to be for him as we refine some of his skills,” Inge said. “Some of his abilities, now being able to go make some of the plays that he wasn’t in a position to be able to make a year ago and eliminate some of the errors that he had that he created a year ago, and being able to be in a position to be able to help our defense be even better this year.”
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The Tennessee linebacker group is loaded with as many as eight legitimate guys who could see action. Edwin Spillman is with Perlotte in that second platoon group, along with Jeremiah Telander. Jaedon Harmon could also be in the mix, while big-time prospects TJ White and Braydon Rouse settle in as true freshmen.
One thing is for sure — Jim Knowles and William Inge will have plenty of versatility with this unit this fall. For my money, Perlotte is the most exciting one in the group.
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