Tennessee defensive line transfer ranked 2026 top 20 newcomer
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Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam committed to Tennessee in January after transferring from Penn State.
The 6-foot-2, 305-pound defensive tackle appeared in 17 games, including two starts, for the Nittany Lions from 2024-25.
Gilliam recorded 16 tackles, two tackles for a loss and 0.5 sacks. His career-high for tackles in a game was four versus FIU on Sept. 6, 2025, while recording 0.5 sacks against Rutgers on Nov. 29, 2025.
Ahead of the 2026 college football season, Billy Tucker of ESPN ranked the top 100 newcomers. He ranked Gilliam No. 20 nationally.
“Gilliam doesn’t have gaudy production (12 solo tackles in 2025) but his impact jumps out on tape,” Tucker said. “He holds at the point of attack but also puts some pressure on the quarterback when rushing with continuous effort. He plays with heavy hands and power. Though he’s not a dominant athlete, he is an effective player and Tennessee will likely deploy him in several different ways along its defensive front.”
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Tennessee lineman ranked top 20 newcomer for 2026 football season
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