Tennessee's defensive unit faced many ups and downs during its 2025 campaign. A handful of early injuries to the secondary, along with inconsistent play, made conference play a bad combination for the Vols.
It’s fair to say the group was very limited from reaching their full potential due to the injuries to players such as Jermod McCoy, yet there were still a handful of bright spots that will have more chances to shine through in 2026.
CB Ty Redmond
One of the more exciting developments on either side of the football this season for the Vols was the sudden rise of true freshman defensive back Ty Redmond.
Redmond, hailing from Alpharetta, Georgia, was thrust into the starting lineup after key injuries to the secondary very early in the season. Redmond appeared in all 12 games of the season, with 11 of his starts coming at the cornerback position.
Despite being rated just three-stars out of high school, Redmond showed off his pass-breakup ability, leading all Power Four freshmen in pass breakups and passes defended entering the postseason.
He finished his season with three interceptions and 11 pass deflections, and is only expected to grow entering his sophomore year.
DL Daevin Hobbs
Defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs just brought his junior season with the Vols to a close, and now he is poised for a big senior season on the line.
Hobbs didn’t make his season debut until Oct. 11, when the Vols welcomed Arkansas to town. He missed the first five games with a lower-body injury. Despite the setback, Hobbs played his final seven games of the season.
During those seven games played, Hobbs made an impact with 28 total tackles, along with three tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble to go with.
Hobbs looks to headline next season’s defensive line as a senior.
LB Edwin Spillman
The underclassmen takeover on the defensive side of the ball continued in theme with Edwin Spillman at the linebacker position.
Just like his teammate Redmond, Spillman also led all freshmen, true or redshirt, in a stat category. Spillman finished his 2025 season with a freshman-leading 80 tackles.
Spillman appeared in all 13 games for the Vols and was everywhere on the field for almost every game, it felt. His highest game-total in tackles for the season came against Kentucky when Spillman earned 15 tackles, 11 being solo.
Adding an interception against Oklahoma, Spillman adds to the potential of this Tennessee defense with both his speed and his physicality.
LB Jeremiah Telander
The defense next season will have its mix of underclassmen and upperclassmen playmakers, and rising senior linebacker Jeremiah Telander will be a large part of the group.
Finishing his 2025 season with the same amount of total tackles as his teammate Spillman, Telander brings the heavy hits after officially stepping into the middle linebacker spot back in 2024.
During his junior season, he started every game at middle linebacker. Along with the 80 tackles included one interception and one sack. Telander’s biggest games of the season came in the later stages of the season, starting with the road matchup against Florida.
Telander finished the contest against the Gators with a season-high ten total tackles before following up that performance with another solid game against Vanderbilt, where he tallied seven tackles.