Tennessee redshirt freshman linebacker Edwin Spillman has emerged this year as a dominant force for the Volunteers defense.
In his first full season with the Vols, the Nashville native ranked second in total tackles (74) with 2.5 sacks and an interception.
In his breakout 2025 season, Spillman also led all SEC freshmen in total tackles, while earning conference All-Freshman team honors and a 2025 Freshman All-America Second Team nomination from The Athletic.
As Spillman and his team prepare for a Music City Bowl clash with the Fighting Illini of Illinois, they are led by interim defensive coordinator William Inge, who was promoted from LBs coach following the firing of former DC Tim Banks.
“It feels amazing,” Spillman said of the defensive room’s vibe following the coaching change.
“Coach Inge brings so much wisdom and passion into the meetings every single day.”
Despite the personnel change in Knoxville, Spillman addressed his team’s mindset as they prepare for an important bowl game opportunity against a talented Big 10 opponent.
“It's definitely been a little bit weird… but we still have a bowl game… everybody’s mindset (is) ‘on to the next,'" Spillman said Friday.
While the defensive coordinator responsibilities have been delegated to Inge for the remainder of this season, the Volunteers hired former Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles as their new DC for next season.
Spillman expressed excitement about his future DC with whom he has maintained contact with for several years, dating back to high school.
“I’ve known coach Knowles since I was a freshman in high school… building that relationship with him has been great,” Spillman said.
Although he looks forward to future seasons with Knowles as his defensive coordinator, Spillman’s focus still remains on his squad’s bowl game opponent.
“Right now my focus has been more on finishing the season off with Illinois.” Spillman said that “it’s go time,” as soon as the upcoming bowl game concludes.
As several Volunteers, including linebacker Arion Carter and defensive back Colton Hood, have declared for the upcoming NFL draft, Tennessee will look to its young core -- led by Spillman -- to step up and fill the spots of their departing players for the bowl game and future seasons.
“Obviously those are big pieces that we’re losing, but overall it's just more opportunity for the younger guys to step up and go out there and show the world what they can do,” Spillman said.