Ansley excited about Vols' future at linebacker

[kamoshika]

Ansley spoke at the Knoxville Quarterback Club yesterday...

• To'o To'o: "He’s playing like a freshman All-American...He’s been playing tough, been playing injured. He’s one of those guys you build a defense around going forward."
  
  
• Crouch: Ansley praised Crouch, who has 26 tackles, as doing “a really nice job of developing with our linebacker situation.”
  
  
• Harrison: “Roman is at a position where there are a lot of guys in front of him, but he is a unique skill-set...He is a really good athlete on the edge. He is tough and plays hard. We just have to continue to develop him.”
  
  
• Peterson: “He’s going to have a breakout future here pretty soon."

Derrick Ansley is excited about Vols' future at linebacker

 

[MR_VOL]

It would not bother me at all if Tennessee was known as "Linebacker U"!!

 

[Tennesseefan2019]

Tennessee will be loaded at linebacker the next few seasons and it'll be fun to watch

 

[LittleVol]

You have the Whitehaven 4 * trio coming in as well. And they lead the best High School defense in the state of Tennessee. Maybe Butler and Morven sure up the outside

Bennett and Johnson are really coming on too on the outside as veterans for next season.

 

[tennesseepride84]

Peterson to have a breakout future real... Please let this be true.

 

[ChattownVFL]

VOLS 2020 defense should be the best it's been in a looong time.

 

[Gandalf]

Can't wait till Pruitt and Ansley turn our D into the D bubba had before Pruitt left them.

 

[Orange931]

VOLS 2020 defense should be the best it's been in a looong time.

I was thinking the same thing. If you look at who’s returning next year....oh boy.

 

[Nocleats]

The better the DLine plays, the better the LBs get!

 

[TJVol95]

Excellent!!!

 

[rikberry31]

VOLS 2020 defense should be the best it's been in a looong time.

I believe this will be true. Right now I think Tennessee is one of the better defenses in the SEC.

 

[orangebloodgmc]

The better the DLine plays, the better the LBs get!

Amen! I can't give this enough likes.

 

[RollerVol]

sounds good and you gotta like what we've seen since Miss St, but I still like National Champion U better...

GO BIG ORANGE...BEAT MIZZOU!

 

[LittleVol]

VOLS 2020 defense should be the best it's been in a looong time.

Senior heavy d-line that's big and experienced.
Talented young LBs with experience
Talented junior group of Thompson, Taylor George, Flowers. The backend. McCullough Burrell, Lawrence, and McDaniel are a starting 4 almost anywhere else.

The key is Crouch, Bennett, Harrison, Johnson bringing the heat on the outside.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

I believe this will be true. Right now I think Tennessee is one of the better defenses in the SEC.

Love your take but as far as the reality of it, that remains to be seen.

 

[MiramarVol]

Show up and Show out this Saturday.

 

[Chilmonty]

LB play has really improved this year and our run D is greatly improved over last year.......?!?!?!

Could there be a correlation???

.

 

[Nocleats]

LB play has really improved this year and our run D is greatly improved over last year.......?!?!?!

Could there be a correlation???

.

Greatest reason LB play is improved is that DL play has SLOWLY improved

 

[BACKDOC]

You have the Whitehaven 4 * trio coming in as well. And they lead the best High School defense in the state of Tennessee. Maybe Butler and Morven sure up the outside

Bennett and Johnson are really coming on too on the outside as veterans for next season.

I've heard the smaller Whitehaven kid will likely be a safety.

 

[LittleVol]

I've heard the smaller Whitehaven kid will likely be a safety.

No. People keep saying that for some reason.

He's a tad bit biggerthan Jeremy Banks and has played defense longer. Just as athletic too. His teammates are so big that you think he'll play a different position.

McDonald is 6'2 220 right now... French and Eason 240-250.

McDonald is just as physical as those guys but more athletic and explosive. Him or Eason could start beside Henry T come the fall... by then McDonald is probably 230.

Henry T is 6'3 235 for reference sake...

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

LB play has really improved this year and our run D is greatly improved over last year.......?!?!?!

Could there be a correlation???

.

Funniest man in the world!

 

[tn4elvis]

Senior heavy d-line that's big and experienced.
Talented young LBs with experience
Talented junior group of Thompson, Taylor George, Flowers. The backend. McCullough Burrell, Lawrence, and McDaniel are a starting 4 almost anywhere else.

The key is Crouch, Bennett, Harrison, Johnson bringing the heat on the outside.

Good post

 

[BruisedOrange]

It would not bother me at all if Tennessee was known as "Linebacker U"!!

...known again as "Linebacker U" -- for the youngsters of Volnation.

There was a time ('60s-'80s, from Paul Naumoff, Hacksaw Reynolds and Steve Kiner, through Jackie Walker, and maybe that run ended with Alvin Toles*) when we almost always had at least one All-American linebacker or one drafted in the NFL first round.

Tennessee was signing RBs and even QBs, then converting them into heady, very fast LBs for much of that era.
-----
* feel free to correct my ancient memory

 

[swchandler1988]

...known again as "Linebacker U" -- for the youngsters of Volnation.

There was a time ('60s-'80s, from Paul Naumoff, Hacksaw Reynolds and Steve Kiner, through Jackie Walker, and maybe that run ended with Alvin Toles*) when we almost always had at least one All-American linebacker or one drafted in the NFL first round.

Tennessee was signing RBs and even QBs, then converting them into heady, very fast LBs for much of that era.
-----
* feel free to correct my ancient memory

Naumoff was my peewee coach haha

 

[LittleVol]

Good post

Pruitt has really laid a foundation quickly for his defense. Coach Fitz is earning his $$$ too. The physical development of the young DL is amazing!

But about these LBs:
I've watched Mater Dei (#1 ranked team in high school) play- 3 times this year. Their defense is legit! But i kid you not...all 3 of these Whitehaven boyz would start for the Mater Dei Monarchs. No joke...

JJ Peterson is beginning to heal physically. He'll get a full offseason of improvement without setback. Crouch...can do it all. Harrison...needed to learn OLB. Watch out next year. Henry T...leader of the defense next year as a Sophomore.

Throw in Veterans like K Bennett and D Johnson who are working into maybe earning a little money down the road.

Yeah Our front 7 is really shapping up!