Vols football defense has more recruiting stars, but Georgia has better performance
Blake Toppmeyer
Georgia’s defense will be one of the top units Tennessee faces all season.
The No. 8 Bulldogs (4-0, 1-0 SEC), the Vols' opponent at Neyland Stadium on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS), have limited each of their opponents to fewer than 20 points.
Georgia is surrendering 11.5 points per game, tied for eighth nationally.
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“They’re big. They’re physical. They know their defense,” Vols offensive coordinator Larry Scott said. “It’s a true, deep SEC defense.”
It’s not, however, a defense built around a slew of former five-star recruits.
In fact, the recruiting profile of Georgia’s starting defense is similar to that of Tennessee’s. The Bulldogs have performed better, though.
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Georgia’s starting lineup (counting its nickelback as a 12th starter) had an average recruiting ranking of 3.5 stars by 247Sports. Tennessee’s starting lineup, counting its nickelback, had an average ranking of 3.67 stars.
Here’s a comparison.
Defensive line
Tennessee starters
DE Jonathan Kongbo, DT Kendal Vickers, DT Kahlil McKenzie, DE Darrell Taylor
Average 247 star rating: 4.0
Recruiting prize: McKenzie (five-star)
Top performer: Taylor (18 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss) has been the most consistent performer up front.
Georgia starters
DT Trenton Thompson, NT John Atkins, DE Jonathan Ledbetter
Average 247 star rating: 4.0
Recruiting prize: Thompson (five-star)
Top performer: Thompson (15 tackles, 3 TFLs) is living up to his hype. He’s a first-round draft possibility.
Linebackers
Tennessee starters
SAM Daniel Bituli, MLB Colton Jumper, WLB Quart'e Sapp
Average 247 star rating: 3.33
Recruiting prize: Bituli (four-star)
Top performer: Bituli ranks second in the SEC with 38 tackles, helped by a 23-tackle performance against Georgia Tech.
Georgia starters
SAM Lorenzo Carter, MLB Natrez Patrick, WLB Roquan Smith, JACK Davin Bellamy
Average 247 star rating: 4.25
Recruiting prize: Carter (five-star)
Top performer: Smith (27 tackles) leads Georgia's loaded linebacking corps.
Secondary
Tennessee
CB Justin Martin, CB Emmanuel Moseley, S Nigel Warrior, S Micah Abernathy, Nickel Rashaan Gaulden
Average 247 star rating: 3.6
Recruiting prize: Warrior (four-star)
Top performer: Gaulden has Tennessee's lone interception and also forced a key fumble against Georgia Tech.
Georgia starters
CB Malkom Parrish, CB Deandre Baker, S Dominick Sanders, S J.R. Reed, Nickel Aaron Davis
Average 247 star rating: 2.6. Davis, a former walk-on, didn't have a recruiting ranking.
Recruiting prize: Parrish (four-star)
Top performer: Sanders (13 career interceptions) is tied for fifth on Georgia's all-time interceptions list.