Ascending three-down WILL who earned everything in order: 17 to 68 to 76 tackles across three Tennessee seasons, with a 2024 coverage year (6 pass breakups, an interception) most college backers never produce. His surprise return for a senior season — after real transfer interest — hands Tennessee its defensive tone-setter back, and the leadership story around him is as well documented as any in the conference. The splash column is the honest gap: 1.5 career sacks and one interception in three years project a tackle-and-cover linebacker rather than a blitz weapon, and he managed only 10 games in 2025 with health questions that lingered into spring. Linebackers with this profile — steady volume, coverage competence, teams-ready temperament — come off the board on Day 3 of the 2027 class and stick on rosters. A healthy 100-tackle senior year firms up the floor.