Tennessee football: 5 questions the Vols must answer in 2020

3. Can the Tennessee football front seven replace lost production?

In terms of quantity, Tennessee football wasn’t hit as hard up front as other SEC programs in terms of departures for the draft. However, when it comes to the production that they lost in the front seven, then it becomes a different ballgame as edge rusher Darrell Taylor and linebacker Daniel Bituli are both gone from that unit that really thrived as the Vols turned the season around in 2019.

Replacing Bituli actually isn’t that much of a concern for Pruitt due to who he has ready to step into line. Henry To’o To’o was a Freshman All-American last season and should only get better with time. Pairing him with ultra-versatile Quavarius Crouch should give the Volunteers plenty of juice in that department.

Finding a way to produce what Taylor did in his time in Knoxville, however, won’t be as simple. He had 8.5 sacks in 2019, which as many as the current edge rushers on the roster have combined for over the past two seasons. Losing that type of pressure and sack production is not easy to contend with. Like with the receiver room, though, it’s all about players stepping up not a lack of candidates to do so.

Kivon Bennett is the most likely player to step into Taylor’s role and produce. What is more likely, however, is more emphasis on pressure from the interior as Emmit Gooden, Aubrey Solomon and Darel Middleton form a fearsome trio in the trenches. In any case, that group must find ways to consistently get after opposing quarterbacks now that Taylor is gone.