Under-the-radar player already looks like he's going to be a force for the Tennessee Vols in 2024

Leading up to the start of the 2024 season, there was plenty of talk about the Tennessee Vols' defensive line.

Most of the talk that centered around the Vols' deep and talented defensive line focused on names like James Pearce, Joshua Josephs, Omari Thomas, Elijah Simmons, Bryon Eason, and Omarr Norman-Lott.

Just one game into the season, and there's an under-the-radar name that needs to be talked about just as much as the guys listed above.

Vols junior defensive lineman Tyre West ended the 2023 season with a huge performance in Tennessee's win against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Citrus Bowl.

West, who played mostly on special teams and as a reserve defensive lineman in 2023, totaled four tackles (including 1.5 tackles for loss) and 1.5 sacks in the 35-0 win against Iowa.

In the season-opener against Chattanooga on Saturday, West continued to produce at a high level, accumulating two tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss, a quarterback hit, and a forced fumble.

"Tyre has been really consistent in how he approaches practice every single day," said Vols head coach Josh Heupel after Tennessee's 69-3 win against the Mocs. "His understanding of our defense has really grown, so instead of thinking while he's playing, he is anticipating, reacting, and playing to his full athletic skill set. I'm proud of what he did today and his growth inside of the program.”

Earlier this spring, West told reporters he was anxious to get back on the field after his big game against Iowa.

"Right after that game (against Iowa), I was itching to just have another one because I know the energy I had from that game is going to build and build and build," said West in March. "But now, from the time off I know, especially in spring, I know I'm just going to keep going up."

West certainly delivered on those words, making the most of the 16 snaps that he played against the Mocs.

The emergence of West over the last several games just makes the Vols' defensive line even more dangerous.

Tennessee's defensive line depth is a serious weapon. And it's a big reason why folks around the country are starting to buy in to the idea that the Vols are a playoff-caliber team.

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