Tennessee football's linebacker room is similar at the top, but features some new faces the deeper you get on the depth chart.

Edwin Spillman enters his second year with the Vols now after an injury-riddled freshman campaign.

Now, he will be seeing an increased role as the first guy projected to come off the bench.

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In this role, he's working on playing both the mike and will positions. Like the entire room, the goal is to be comfortable playing both. This lets Spillman and others enter with any other linebacker in the 4-2-5 system.

Right now, Spillman is taking steps in the mental part of the game. A year in the system, he's getting comfortable in his understanding of what is going on.

"I feel like my whole understanding of the game defensively has gotten a whole lot better compared to what it was this time last year," Spillman said. "Just because, I've been here for a year now. I know the calls, the checks, the signals, all that. I'm ready to just go down and play."

Having his understanding is letting him play much more free. When you don't have to worry about where to be or what to do, it can unlock another level on the field.

Spillman noted his pass rushing and blitzing technique as the areas that have taken the biggest jumps due to this.

Now, he's going to have to fight to stay on the field. As a freshman, Spillman played in games against Kent State and Oklahoma.

Then, he had to sit out with another injury. He got back to action against Vanderbilt in the final week of the regular season and the College Football Playoff game against Ohio State.

His teammate in the linebacker room, Jeremiah Telander, thought he was ready to go in that freshman year. It was just these injuries that set him back.

"He's progressed so much. I really think he was ready to play all last year, just an unfortunate injury that he had," Telander said. "I'll tell you what, he's a great linebacker and he has great instincts. He loves to go hit and that's what we love. He's definitely progressed a lot and especially into a leadership role."

While receiving a redshirt for his first year, Spillman now enters his redshirt-freshman season. Despite this youth, he's been one of the top guys in the room.

Particularly with Arion Carter out for the spring, Spillman has stepped up alongside Telander to be a top voice and example for the trio of freshmen Tennessee welcomes to the room.

"He brings juice, as well," Telander said. "He's my go-to guy right now. With AC being out, Edwin Spillman, he brings the juice every single time. Me and him are like two bulls and a battery ram, we work off each other and we play well together. Edwin has done great and I love him to death."

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