Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 2 | W 45-24@ Georgia Tech | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 1 tackles |
| Total | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#17
Ethan Utley
Ethan Utley keeps submitting exhibits like No.219 4★, national recruit, and the Tennessee fanbase keeps asking for one more week.
6′4″ · 287 lb · Nashville, TN · Ensworth
Returning to Tennessee for 2026
The numbers
0
sacks · 2026
1 tackles · 1 hurries
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 tackles, at Georgia Tech
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 defensive lineman on Tennessee's 2026 roster.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to Tennessee in 2025.
Ethan Utley
On Trialas of 2026-09-15
Ethan Utley is on trial in Tennessee's fan jury — the eye test against the résumé.
1TACKLES0SACKS
4★ · NATIONAL RECRUIT
No.219
recruiting national rank
Tennessee fans can't agree whether the tape backs the reputation.
low confidence1 source
Minority viewA vocal minority sees it the other way.
Read the story so far
AI-generated narrative · may contain errors · not journalism · updated 2026-09-15
His career
20254 games
- Signed with Tennessee4-star out of Ensworth
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
Tennessee
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Josh Heupel — 10-5 over that span.
2025Tennessee8-5HC: Josh Heupel · Balanced
2026Tennessee2-0HC: Josh Heupel · Run-heavy
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: qb hurries (83rd percentile). Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 1 game: 1.0 TKL/g, 0.0 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Josh Heupel
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Tennessee
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive line · Tennessee
Returning around him
- 5 Tennessee players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -8 net (21 in / 29 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Tennessee · Last season: 8-5 (AP #18) · Talent rank #13 · 2026 recruiting class #8
Background
CAREER HONORS 2025 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll CAREER Talented, nimble defensive tackle prospect from the Midstate region ... Enrolled at Tennessee in January 2025, went through spring practice and was part of the rotation in the defensive interior as a true freshman ... Played in 12 career game...
The defensive line · Tennessee
- #33Jordan Norman8 tackles for loss · 2025
- #5Daevin Hobbs3.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #2Xavier Gilliam3 tackles for loss · 2025
- #18Tyree Weathersby3 tackles for loss · 2025
- #17Ethan Utley1 tackle for loss · 2025
18 more on the roster · Tennessee team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology