Big Orange Report July 3, 2025

 


Meet the Vols 2025

Inside Defensive Linemen
Position Coach-- Rodney Garner
All Star Candidate-- Bryson Eason

Bryson Eason-- Redshirt Senior (6-3, 315) from Memphis-- One of the quicker and more athletic defensive tackles in the SEC this season, Eason enrolled at Tennessee as a linebacker prospect before adding weight and moving to a down lineman position. Last fall he totaled 24 tackles and seven stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also delivered one of the biggest plays of the campaign when he had a tackle for a five-yard loss in overtime against Florida. This is a player who has still not reached his full potential but this could be the year.
Jackson Moi-- Senior (6-2, 310) from Oceanside, California-- Moi transferred to Knoxville from Stanford last summer and the staff originally had planned to redshirt him. However, he earned playing time with a hardnosed approach to hand-to-hand combat at the line of scrimmage. He has added strength and is expected to be a fixture inside for the d-line. Moi recorded five tackles for minus yardage and had two quarterback sacks in 2024. He is another veteran who could enjoy a peak performance for the Big Orange.
Daevin Hobbs-- Junior (6-4, 290) from Concord, North Carolina-- A valuable and versatile member of Coach Garner's crew, Hobbs can line up at both the three-technique tackle or as the inside defensive end for the UT first level of defense. He has some quickness and agility, moves his feet well and is not afraid of collisions or contact. He booked 20 tackles and three tackles for loss last fall. Hobbs is a solid member of the rotation in the trenches for Garner.
Tyre West-- Senior (6-3, 290) from Tifton, Georgia-- West is the leading candidate to be the starting inside defensive end this year after a very good performance in the second half the schedule last autumn. He plays with excellent leverage against the run and is determined to become a more effective pass rusher. He registered 16 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks in 2024. He has been called on to step up and be a leader on defense this time around.
Domini Bailey-- Senior (6-3, 295) from Salisbury, Maryland-- Like Hobbs, Bailey is comfortable at both tackle and inside end. He can line up at a tackle in definite passing situations to try and use his quickness and explosion to get after the quarterback. Last season the former four star rated recruit had 25 total tackles and a pair of sacks for the stingy Vol defense. Bailey, like some of these teammates, has a chance for a banner year after improving and continuing to learn last season.
Josh Snell-- Red Shirt Junior (6-5, 280) from Mt. Pleasant, Michigan-- Coach Garner is always looking for more quality depth in his meeting room so he added Snell in April from the transfer portal. A standout on the defensive front for Grand Valley State last season, Snell recorded 35 tackles, three stops behind the line of scrimmage, two sacks and six pass deflections. He will attempt to work his way into the rotation when practice gets underway in August.
Position Summary
Coach Garner insists on having six to eight inside linemen so that he can rotate guys in and out of the game hoping to keep them fresh for the fourth quarters. This year he has a veteran, experienced group that have stuck with him and worked hard to reach their full potentials. If these guys can upgrade their pass rushing some, then they could be one of the top level trench warriors in the SEC. This is probably the strongest unit on the UT defense this season. 

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