Butch Jones Is Quietly Building SEC Title-Worthy Defense at Tennessee

When Darrin Kirkland Jr. pulled on his Tennessee cap during a ceremony at Lawrence Central (Indiana) High School on Monday, he gave Volunteers coach Butch Jones yet another jewel in a class poised to turn UT into a contender.

If the old adage of defense winning championships is true, this 2015 recruiting class may just be what sends Tennessee back to the top.

Though Jones couldn't say anything publicly about Kirkland's pledge, he tweeted a not-so-subtle celebration.

UT already enjoyed an emphatic leap up nearly 50 spots to 35th nationally in total defense this year under second-year coordinator John Jancek, who produced a unit that thrived in getting to the quarterback.

The Vols have huge cornerstones around which to build such as defensive ends Derek Barnett and Curt Maggitt as well as cornerback Cameron Sutton.

Now with this year's class, Jones has recruited a stable of talent that can at least on paper match anybody's.

Where Tennessee's highly rated 2014 recruiting class was full of offensive playmakers, this year's class is heavy on the defensive needs facing the future on Rocky Top. Many of those needs have been met through some serious victories on the recruiting trail.

The Vols have won huge head-to-head battles with some of their biggest rivals, and the fruits of their work are evident in the star power heading to Knoxville next year.

Though the Vols struggled to find a rotation on the interior of the defensive front this year, they'll add to the mix the nation's top-ranked player—defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie—as well as a pair of quality tackles, Shy Tuttle and Quay Picou.

Throw in a trio of defensive ends who are playing in high school All-America games in Andrew Butcher, Darrell Taylor and Marques Ford, and the defensive line is on firm footing for the future. Not to mention the Vols are in the final three for 4-stars Kyle Phillips and D'Andre Walker to close the class.

If UT can somehow finish with either of those guys (or both), it would only add to a class already lauded by experts. Steve Wiltfong (subscription required) of 247Sports said this week:

"

Come National Signing Day, there is a good chance we're saying Tennessee has inked the best defensive line class in the country…  As Tennessee improved in year two under Jones and company, these [prospects mentioned above] are the guys that can help lead the Vols back to national prominence. A lot of NFL talent listed here.

"

Much like Hugh Freeze has done with Ole Miss, it appears Tennessee is beginning its resurgence on the defensive side. Like the Rebels, there's enough talent on offense to have a season very soon that announces to the world that the Vols are back.

Securing a defensive line haul such as the one line coach Steve Stripling is amassing in Knoxville is impressive to everybody, and that includes Kirkland. As one of the nation's top middle linebacker prospects, he's looking for a place that has good enough linemen to give blockers fits so he can make plays.

He took a peek at Tennessee's class and who'd be his future teammates, and that certainly didn't hurt.

"Kahlil McKenzie and Shy Tuttle definitely played a big factor in my decision," Kirkland told 247Sports' Wiltfong. "Having two great defensive tackles in front of me and hopefully some others can join as well."

Kirkland was a massive pull at a major-need position. With A.J. Johnson out of eligibility this season, the Vols need help in the middle. Jakob Johnson hasn't run with his opportunity to replace the elder Johnson, and redshirt Dillon Bates is an outside linebacker who could play there if needed.

But Kirkland's commitment gives UT a midterm linebacker who can come in, learn the playbook and compete immediately.

Joining Kirkland on the second level is 3-star Austin Smith, who had offers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia and others before committing to the Vols. He's a speedy, rangy outside 'backer who will fit well in Tommy Thigpen's corps.

If UT can add fellow Atlanta-area prospect Quart'e Sapp to the mix, it'll be an ideal haul on the second level.

On the back end, the Vols already boast some excellent young talent, led by Sutton. Cornerbacks Emmanuel Moseley and Rashaan Gaulden as well as safety Todd Kelly Jr. appear poised for exciting futures.

Now, Tennessee has added to that group 4-star cornerback Micah Abernathy, 3-star safety Stephen Griffin and 3-star cornerback Darrell Miller. With Tennessee natives Ugo Amadi and Justin Martin very viable options to close out the class, UT is sitting pretty at defensive back with two months left before national signing day.

It's the same across the board for the Vols, who've thrived on the recruiting trail under Jones, overturning such treasures as Barnett, who finished his freshman season with 20.5 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks.

Though neither Jancek nor Stripling had developed a reputation of being a standout recruiter during his veteran assistant career, they've both done extremely well at Tennessee.

Players identify with them and believe in what they're building, and the first-year players they're responsible for bringing to UT were sprinkled throughout a defense that carried UT for wide swaths of the season.

The limitations Tennessee's 2014 defense faced were chiefly depth-related, but the improvement from '13 in that capacity was exponential. Considering all the talent the Vols are bringing in on that side of the ball again this year, next season should feature a clearer, more talented rotation.

Nobody is suggesting UT will go undefeated, but winning in the SEC starts on defense, and the Vols are putting the players in place to be special on that side of the football.

When that happens, competing for the division and perhaps even the league may not be far behind.

All stats gathered from CFBStats.com, unless otherwise noted, and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports Composite, unless otherwise noted.

Brad Shepard covers SEC football and is the Tennessee Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow Brad on Twitter @Brad_Shepard.