Week 10 is shaping up to be the best weekend of college football in a while. The first set of CFP rankings was released this week, and it’s created intrigue like no other week, with as many as 7 ranked-on-ranked matchups set to take place today. That includes an alluring battle in Knoxville between Tennessee and Kentucky, which features a slew of future NFL draft talent. The Volunteers have every right to feel aggrieved by their #13 ranking, while the Wildcats have been the surprise package in the SEC this year under first-year HC Will Stein. And speaking of first-years and surprise packages in the SEC, no player fits that description more than Tennessee DT Xavier Gilliam. He has been a revelation in the middle of Jim Knowles’ defense with 6 sacks through 8 games and could be a huge factor in trying to slow down a Kentucky offense, which has been top-half in the SEC across most offensive categories so far in 2026. Check out my detailed scouting report on Gilliam below:
Background & Measurables
Name: Xavier Gilliam
College: Tennessee
Year: Junior
Size: 6’2, 305 pounds
Position/Scheme Fit: Explosive defensive lineman in a four-man front
Former 3-star edge recruit in the 2024 class out of Gaithersburg, Maryland. He also competed in track and field (shot put) and played basketball and baseball in High School at Wilde Lake (Md.). Gilliam appeared in five games in 2024 at Penn State and earned a redshirt as a true freshman with 55 snaps and one tackle.
In 2025, he was a major reserve contributor in the middle for the Nittany Lions, playing in all 13 games with two starts (409 snaps). He collected 15 tackles with two tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, one QB hurry, one forced fumble and one blocked field goal. Following the 2025 season, he entered the transfer portal as the #7 DL available and joined Tennessee. He was named 2026 Preseason All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon) and has blown past that expectation in 8 games so far with the Volunteers. This week, he was named one of the semifinalists for the Lombardi Award, and he ranks third in the SEC and is tied for 11th in the country with 11.5 tackles for loss. He is also tied for fifth in the conference and tied for 18th nationally with six sacks.
Scouting Report
Strengths
Among the most explosive DTs in the class. Quick off the snap with exceptional closing speed.
Hands are quick and fairly consistent, given it's his first year as a starter. Flashes excellent initial moves and counters that really challenge tackles to the end of reps.
Has some real nuance as a pass rusher. Good rush awareness and gap integrity when getting after the QB.
Maintains leg drive through blocks and is an asset as a bull rusher. Power in his lower half is for real.
Development Points
First year as a starter following a minor role with the Nittany Lions. Excellent 2026, but still a projection.
Can get washed out in the run game as he gets caught peeking in the backfield. Susceptible to chasing the explosive play.
Misses some tackles in space, as he can be a step slow in diagnosing QBs or RBs going through the B gap.
Conclusion
Gilliam jumped off the tape the second I turned on my first game watching him, and he continued to impress in every game since. He has high-level pass-rushing ability because of his explosion off the snap and the nuance in his pass-rush plan, where he rushes inside or outside consistently. He has flashes against the run, but can stand to be more stout there, as his lack of frame leads to struggles in holding up in the nose on an every-snap basis. He is on the ground more than you'd like to see, but that is something that can be worked on with NFL coaching, as it seems more a positional and footwork issue than an athleticism concern. I appreciate that Gilliam is a first-year starter in Knoxville, having been a rotational player at Penn State previously, but I believe Gilliam is ready to take the next step to the NFL and should be a 1st-round pick in April.
Grade: 1st round
Possible team fits: Titans, Eagles, Vikings