Rodney Garner sees bright future for Daevin Hobbs, makes comparison to a Hall of Famer
One of the biggest gets in Tennessee’s 2023 recruiting class was the late fall commitment and December signing of 5-star defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs.
Hobbs enrolled in January but missed spring practice due to shoulder surgery. Despite the spring set back, Hobbs has worked his way into Rodney Garner’s rotation and has impressed the veteran coach in the process.
“I think Hobbs is a great young talent. I think this kid, he has a very bright future,” Garner said. “The thing that he’s impressed me with, for a kid not to be here in January and to have surgery and to be able to come in and play on the interior, which, you know, in high school he was an edge guy, stand-up a guy, move around, basketball player and all that, we thought he had a really good skillset and all that, but we thought initially that it was gonna be more at the end. But with our need and everything that transpired, we needed more help at tackle and for him to embrace it, not fight it, to go in there and do it, it’s been very impressive. So I’m looking forward to watching his development, because he has a long ways to go and once he improves and continues to get stronger, understanding fundamentals and what it takes to play in there, he’s got a chance, I think, to be an elite guy because of his skillset and what he brings to that position.”
Because of injury to Elijah Simmons and the transfer of Da’jon Terry in May, Hobbs was forced to slide inside early. He has played in 3 of Tennessee’s 4 games this season logging 5 tackles in 78 snaps this season.
Hobbs didn’t play in the Vols SEC opener at Florida and whether or not he plays this weekend is unclear, but his talent and future isn’t in Garner’s mind. In fact, Garner compared Hobbs’ talent and make up to a former player who’s in the NFL Hall of Fame.
“Richard Seymour is coming to the game this weekend with his son. So I’m looking forward to my guys getting a chance to meet him, getting a chance to talk to him. He reminds me of a lot of Richard with his demeanor,” Garner said. “Demeanor and his size and his athleticism. So I’m looking forward him and looking forward to them to have the opportunity to meet each other.”
And you can expect Seymour’s message to Hobbs will one of complete buy in to his demanding teacher.
“Everything was done with a purpose with coach Garner,” Seymour explained to Volquest last year. “There’s countless times where I reflect on a lot of his teachings. A lot of times, it’s not by what one says, it’s by when you watch them how they treat their family. How do they treat their wife? How do they treat their kids? He is a living example. A lot of times it wasn’t always the words, it was the actions that I admired. I just wanted to treat my family the way he did his as well.
“Our relationship transcended football. He’s just a great man. He’s a family man and I was just able to learn so much not only on the football field, but just about the responsibility of a student-athlete. What it meant to do things the right way in every aspect. He is a great example for a lot of young men to follow. He’s just a great guy. His wife, Kim, they have just been great to me and my family. I have the utmost respect for him as a coach but more importantly as a man.”
For more on Hobbs, check out this week’s edition of Vol Club Confidential which will feature a sit down interview with Hobbs and fellow freshman Arion Carter.
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