Defensive coordinator Bob Shoop knew the type of defensive line he was inheriting when he decided to take the job at Tennessee last February.

When he arrived, however, and took the Vols through spring practice he wasn't afforded all the talent he knew was on the roster.

More than 10 defensive players missed at least part of spring practice due to injury or surgery, and the defensive line, a perceived strength of the team, was hit harder than any other with six players absent.

Jump to the start of fall camp, and the Vols are back healthy and looking like the defense Shoop left his post at Penn State for.

All-SEC junior defensive end Derek Barnett, sophomore Kendal Vickers and sophomore Kyle Phillips have returned to the defensive line.

Even budding defensive tackle Shy Tuttle, who is still working back from a broken fibula and torn ligament suffered against Georgia that ended his freshman season, has been somewhat active during the first couple of practices, though in a role that will see his reps limited once the Vols get into pads in an effort to ease him in.

Add No. 1 junior college player Jonathan Kongbo to that group and Shoop has a completely new look along the defensive front this fall.

“It looks different out there,” Shoop said Wednesday. “It definitely looks different out there. At the end position, it's three deep, which is pretty legit.

“There's seven D-ends that I need to find reps for there.”

Shoop said Barnett is the unquestioned leader, commanding not just the defensive line group but also demanding respect from the defensive as a whole.

Barnett, who has 20 career sacks and 33 tackles for loss entering his junior season, missed the spring after undergoing shoulder surgery.

“He says jump, they say 'how high?' He says run, they say 'how fast?'” Shoop said. “He's the leader out there. He's my muscle, if you will. My enforcer.”

Shoop has also liked what he's seen from Kongbo, as have his fellow players.

“He looks good,” Barnett said of his teammate at defensive end. “He's still learning a lot of stuff, but he's raw talent. He's going to be a good ball player for us.

“He's going to help us this year. Everybody knows that in the room.”

On Barnett's end, it's also his first time to be on the field with Shoop in charge.

The two knew one another when Barnett was a sought after prospect in the mid-state and Shoop was at Vanderbilt. Barnett said they had a good relationship then and that it's picked up now that they're both at Tennessee.

The talented end said they spent time this summer watching film of Shoop's previous defenses at Penn State and Vanderbilt, and he came away impressed and excited about the style the Vols will be employ under Shoop this season.

“I play D-line, so I like it,” Barnett said. “He brings people.”

With such talent on the line, specifically at defensive end, Shoop said they will work in different packages to solidify defensive tackle and get more players on the field.

“The fact that you're thinner inside and deeper outside, I'm going to find it hard getting even reps for seven guys on the perimeter,” Shoop said. “We have packages and we have thoughts to work Derek (Barnett) inside – he's volunteered to do that. Jonathan Kongbo … you transition a guy to a big three-technique who's explosive and dynamic, he might have a bright future. The other guy we've talked about is (Dimarya) Mixon, getting him some reps too.”

Shoop still has decisions to make on the line, but he is understandably more at peace with too many pieces than scraping by with limited bodies like he did during the spring.

“It's a good problem to have,” he said.

While Shoop is looking for depth at positions like linebacker and defensive tackle, he has a real healthy competition at safety that won't end anytime soon.

“TK (Todd Kelly) has picked up where he left off in the spring,” Shoop said. “Rashaan Gaulden has had a good first two days. Micah Abernathy has had a really good first two days. Having Evan Berry back has been very positive. The other two guys who I would acknowledge at the safety position is Stephen Griffin, who has made lot of improvements since the spring and has worked hard to put himself in a position to have a role.

"And the rookie, Nigel Warrior, he's done a good job and has made a good impression the first couple of days. Here's a guy isn't always going in the right direction but he has a skill set that merits us to spend more time with him and get him ready for the opening game.”