re: Bruce Feldman: Top 10 LB corps in the country

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6. Tennessee
New defensive coordinator Bob Shoop has produced terrific defenses at Penn State and Vanderbilt the past five years, and he inherits a pretty athletic group of linebackers led by Jalen Reeves Maybin, who has piled up 206 tackles in the past two seasons. Reeves-Maybin isn't huge at 6-0, 230 but he runs in the 4.6s and plays even faster than that because he diagnoses things so quickly. He's also a real leader. The name to remember here though is Darrin Kirkland Jr. He started 10 games last year at middle linebacker as a true freshman, but he's primed for a breakout season in 2016. The 6-1, 235-pounder with 4.5 speed had Shoop very excited when I visited UT in spring. "His football IQ is off the charts," said Shoop. "He runs well. He just gets it. He's only a true sophomore. When it's all said and done for him, we'll be talking about him on a short list of players here at Tennessee." Another young LB on the rise is sophomore Quart'e Sapp, who also can really run. The UT staff was impressed with how he came on over the last two-thirds of spring becoming much more physical. Former walk-on Colton Jumper Cortez McDowell and Kenny Bynum also will push for playing time.

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For this reason...UT should be lower. Excellent starting LB corps, but I am concerned about the 2-deep. Colton Jumper is largly responsible for the 4th quarter melt down against Oklahoma. He can't cover a poop stain on carpet with a throw rug...much less a TE or RB.