2027 Summer Scouting Report: Edwin Spillman, Linebacker, Tennessee

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2027 Summer Scouting Report: Edwin Spillman, Linebacker, Tennessee

Mason Riney, Buccaneers Wire · Buccaneers Wire

Thu, Jun 18, 2026 ·

3 min read

Background Information

Redshirt Sophomore

Linebacker

Tennessee Volunteers

Nashville, Tennessee native

Lipscomb Academy alumnus

6-foot-1, 225 pounds

2025 Freshman All-American

2025 SEC All-Freshman Team

Former four-star recruit

Played in 17 career games with six starts

Tennessee's leading returning tackler

Three years of remaining eligibility

Notable Career Stats Heading Into 2026

87 career tackles

3.5 tackles for loss

2.5 sacks

1 interception

3 pass breakups

17 career games played

81 tackles during the 2025 season

Led Tennessee in tackles during 2025

SEC's leading freshman tackler in 2025

Career-high 15 tackles against Kentucky

Freshman All-American selection in 2025

Notable Numbers From PFF Heading Into 2026

2025: 537 snaps

78.7 overall defensive grade

76.7 run-defense grade

69.8 tackling grade

80.4 pass-rush grade

71.5 coverage grade

11 pressures

11 defensive stops

17.0% missed tackle rate

1 interception

1 forced incompletion

Allowed 17 receptions on 20 targets

Allowed an NFL passer rating of 91.9 when targeted

Strengths

Advanced football IQ

Excellent pre-snap communicator

Instinctive run defender

Outstanding route recognition

Diagnoses screens quickly

Quick downhill trigger

Strong understanding of offensive concepts

Comfortable in hook/curl coverage

Effective flat-zone defender

Carries running backs in coverage

Understands passing windows

Active in passing lanes

Physical downhill mentality

Strong pursuit motor

Reliable wrap-up tackler

Attacks blockers with leverage

Maintains vision into the backfield

Effective against motion and misdirection

Versatile linebacker deployment

Three-down linebacker potential

Player Summary

Edwin Spillman enters the 2026 season as one of the most intriguing linebackers in the SEC. After earning Freshman All-American honors and leading Tennessee in tackles as a redshirt freshman, Spillman appears poised to become the centerpiece of the Volunteers' second level. The production is impressive, but the film reveals a player whose instincts and football intelligence may be even more impressive than the statistics.

Against the run, Spillman consistently plays a step ahead. He quickly diagnoses blocking schemes, identifies running lanes, and attacks downhill with confidence. Rather than waiting for ball carriers to declare their path, he frequently attacks the structure of the play itself by taking on blockers and disrupting lanes before runners can reach them. His ability to maintain leverage while keeping his eyes in the backfield repeatedly showed up throughout the evaluation.

In coverage, Spillman looks comfortable handling a variety of responsibilities. Tennessee trusted him to work in hook/curl zones, defend the flats, carry running backs in coverage, and adjust to offensive motion. His awareness of route combinations and passing windows consistently stood out. He routinely positioned himself to take away throwing lanes and showed excellent awareness against screens, often diagnosing concepts before they fully developed.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Spillman's game is how quickly he processes information. He communicates before the snap, identifies route concepts, reacts decisively to motion, and consistently puts himself in position to impact plays. Spillman projects as a true off-ball linebacker at the next level, and if his physical development continues to match his instincts and football intelligence, he has a realistic path to climbing significantly up draft boards during the 2026 season.