Tennessee Vols – The Two Most Under-Appreciated Players

The Tennessee Vols now have a plethora of household names on their 2015 team. Everyone knows Josh Dobbs, Cam Sutton, Pig Howard, Curt Maggitt, Derek Barnett and Jalen Hurd. Everyone knows about Khalil McKenzie, Shy Tuttle, Kyle Phillips and Darrin Kirkland. These are names known by the majority of the Orange and White faithful across the State of Tennessee and beyond.

There are however two guys that have names that may escape even the best of Tennessee fans. These two played outstanding last season against big time SEC competition. They did without fanfare. They did without a lot of praise. They did without depth behind them. They simply got it done week in and week out on the interior of the defensive front. Surprisingly so in my opinion.

Junior Danny O’Brien and Senior Owen Williams solidified a defensive line that was much better than even the most over-zealous fan could have hoped for. Going into the season, Tennessee had one player that we all thought could play with his hand on the ground. That was Curt Maggitt, and he was a linebacker. We worried about the interior of that defensive front. Well, at least I did.

Enter O’Brien and Williams. O’Brien came to Tennessee out of Michigan as a four star defensive tackle.. He was ranked by Rivals as the number 2 prospect in all of Michigan. But not much more was said. At least not on the level that Shy Tuttle and Khalil McKenzie have been celebrated. Granted, McKenzie is a legacy and at one time rated the number one recruit in America. Likewise, Tuttle bordered on 5 stars as well. Tuttle is already loved by Vol fans and hasn’t played a down in an SEC game. But he will, and he will be great.

Williams was a JUCO kid out of Kansas. He was not highly regarded, but was a second team All American at that level. As soon as he got to campus he gained the attention of Coach Jones and staff in the weight room. He became a leader quickly in the strength category. He is still one of the strongest Vols on the team. But he was not celebrated by Vol fans like these others. To be fair, neither was Derek Barnett.

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But these two guys played at a high level last season. You have to remember that they were not able to get as much rest during a game as most defensive lineman in the SEC.  There were just not enough bodies to help. Coach Jones simply did not have anyone they could plug in. These two played a bunch of minutes against some of the toughest competition in the NCAA. Oklahoma, Georgia, and Alabama had as good as running games as there was in the nation. These guys had to suck it up game in and game out. And they did.

O’Brien started 12 of the 13 games played. He finished with 23 solo tackles. He had 4.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. The encouraging part was that Danny got better as the season wore on. Williams played in 12 games in a reserve role. He finished with 21 solo tackles and 2 sacks on the season. Williams also improved immensely as the season progressed. He registered 4 tackles in the Alabama game which was one of his best performances against arguably the best running game in the SEC.

These two reminded me of throwback type of Tennessee defensive lineman. They are the Bill Duff, Mark Hovanic, Shaun Ellis, Darwin Walker type of defensive line guys. Guys that just got it done without a lot of noise. When I sat through the Orange and White game prior to last season I could not find a bright spot on the defensive line. Now, with these two returning, and with the incoming talent that will assemble in a few weeks, it could be one of the best Tennessee has had.

But if that is to be, it will start with these two. They won’t go quietly to a back up role just because a few guys have five stars next to their recruiting status. No, these guys have been there, done that, seen that, and have the tackles to show for it. They will be a force in the middle of this line this season. I predict they will get some love finally from Vol fans as the season goes on!