Performance of under-the-radar Tennessee player will be critical to Vols' College Football Playoff hopes

There's an under-the-radar Tennessee Vols player that's impressing during fall camp that's going to be absolutely critical to UT's College Football Playoff hopes in 2024.

Everyone knows about Vols junior edge rusher James Pearce, the potential No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Pearce had a breakout season for Tennessee in 2023, totaling 9.5 sacks and an interception.

The Charlotte native is widely viewed as one of the best defensive players in the nation, which means he won't be sneaking up on anyone this fall.

Pearce will almost certainly receive extra attention from opposing offenses, which will provide plenty of opportunities for his teammates.

Junior edge rusher Joshua Josephs, specifically, is one of the Tennessee players that stands to gain the most from the extra attention that will be directed Pearce's way.

The Vols will need an edge rusher to step up opposite Pearce to take advantage of the double teams that the likely future first round pick receives in 2024. And Josephs appears to be poised to rise to the challenge.

VolQuest's Brent Hubbs joined 104.5 The Zone's Ramon, Kayla, and Will on Friday and he offered some encouraging notes on Josephs' development ahead of the 2024 season.

"I think Joshua Josephs is a guy at defensive end who's going to play opposite James Pearce in the rabbit package who was better than Pearce as a freshman in terms of production," said Hubbs. "He's a guy that you can tell -- I think James Pearce's success has motivated him. Josh is more committed to the game. Physically, he looks better than he's ever looked. He's been in the weight room, nutrition, all of those things.

"He's put on good weight. He's more focused than he's been in the past. I think that's a guy that's going to be really interesting to watch when they put on pads and get after it."

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel made some similar comments when asked about Josephs earlier this week.

“He’s (Josephs) gotten a lot bigger," said Heupel. "It’s just the growth of the person and that parlays itself into the growth of the player. For him, just what he’s doing every minute of the day, how he’s taking care of his body, the sleep that he’s getting, who he is outside of the building, and then when he’s here, how intentional and how focused he is, just becoming a master of his craft."

“He’s done a great job in the weight room," added Heupel. "Nutrition has done a great job with him -- and that’s him taking the lead on those things. You look at his frame now compared to where he was a year ago, dramatically different. His confidence and understanding of what we’re doing, allowing his athletic traits to take over, continued fundamental development. Really excited about the offseason that he’s had.”

If Josephs, a former four-star recruit, can take a major step forward this season (he totaled 3.0 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore last season) and take advantage of the opportunities that will come his way due the extra attention that Pearce is going to receive, then Tennessee's defense could end up being in the elite category this fall.

And if the defense is elite, it's almost a certainty that the Vols, as long as they remain healthy, will reach the playoff.

Josephs is only one player, but he could be an underrated key to Tennessee's potential playoff success in 2024.

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