Tennessee is going to have one of the most loaded defenses in the SEC and country this season with a solid secondary returning and almost the entire front seven coming back. The Vols also added Jonathan Konbgo who will surely plug up some holes along the defensive line as well. However, one of the most important returners is Jalen Reeves-Maybin who is also coming off shoulder surgery this offseason.
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The All-SEC linebacker spent all of spring and most of the summer in a green non-contact jersey because of the injury and while he isn't concerned with the shoulder —- he explicitly said that he isn't —- he is unsure what might happen when he is 100 percent unleashed against Appalachian State on Sept 1. He spoke before Monday's practice about what he'll have to do once the game starts next week.
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"I still don't know. I mean, you can't simulate being in a game. Once you go in a game ... I mean, I ain't hit nobody full speed yet. It's just gonna be something I have to put faith in. I trust our training room and our strength staff and stuff like that.
"I've progressed well, and I haven't had any setbacks yet, so when it's time to go full speed, I can't hold back."
Reeves-Maybin said that he definitely won't baby the shoulder once game time comes though and he said that he's been easing back into hitting and getting comfortable with that while wearing the green jersey.
Reeves-Maybin recorded a whopping 105 total tackles last season while also sacking the quarterback six times and tackling an offensive player for a loss 14 times. Those are some pretty gaudy numbers and he's going to have even more help this year up front on his defensive line so those numbers might be even more ridiculous if his shoulder holds up.
[h/t 247Sports]
