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Josh Heupel on Tennessee freshman LB Jadon Perlotte: 'He's a playmaker'

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey10/17/25GrantRamey
Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee linebacker Jadon Perlotte (27) celebrates after getting the fumbled ball by Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green (10) during a college football game between Tennessee and Arkansas at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Oct. 11, 2025.
Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee linebacker Jadon Perlotte (27) celebrates after getting the fumbled ball by Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green (10) during a college football game between Tennessee and Arkansas at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Oct. 11, 2025.

Jadon Perlotte was only on the field for nine plays in Tennessee’s 34-31 win over Arkansas on Saturday at Neyland Stadium, but the freshman linebacker made his present felt. He record a tackle, recovered a fumble and was the second-highest graded player for the Vols on defense. 

“He’s got all the athleticism,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said Thursday afternoon on The Mike Keith Show. “You can see that on the tape really quickly.”

Perlotte was graded at 82.1 overall according to Pro Football Focus, second only to Joshua Josephs. He had a 79.1 coverage grade, a 74.3 tackle grade and a 61.5 grade in run defense.  

Up Next: No. 11 Tennessee at No. 6 Alabama, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC

His lone tackle came early in the fourth quarter, when he flashed his speed by running from the far hash to chase Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green out of bounds, holding him to a gain of three.

“He eats up space,” Heupel said. “He’s extremely violent when it comes to the point of contact. He’s got natural hips, explosive twitch inside of his body. 

“And he’s just really done a good job of continuing to progress in the understanding of our defense. At the end of the day, he’s a playmaker.”

Perlotte was committed to USC as a three-star linebacker in the 2025 class out of Buford High School in Buford, Ga., but flipped to Tennessee in December.

Tennessee’s defense could use more playmakers, especially against the run, Arkansas ran for a season-high 240 yards on Tennessee’s defense, two weeks removed from Mississippi State running for 203. Georgia ran 55 times for 198 yards and three touchdowns against the Vols on September 13.

Perlotte has played 32 snaps in three appearances this season, with nine against East Tennessee State and 14 against UAB, before getting nine more against Arkansas. He has four tackles on the season, with two against UAB and one each against ETSU and Arkansas. 

‘When the lights are on, you gotta see those things translate to the game field’

He could be in line for a bigger opportunity when No. 11 Tennessee (5-1, 2-1 SEC) goes to No. 11 Alabama (5-1, 3-0) on Saturday night (7:30 Eastern Time, ABC). 

Tennessee linebacker Edwin Spillman will be suspended for the first half against the Crimson Tide after being ejected on a targeting call in the second half against Arkansas. 

Heupel said Thursday that whatever playing time a freshman gets on game days is earned on the practice field. 

“It’s always a player’s responsibility to earn the trust of their coaches,” Heupel said, “but their teammates as well. And that proof happens Monday through Friday. And ultimately when they get the opportunity to go play, when the lights are on, you gotta see those things translate to the game field. 

“And that’s the growth and the journey that every player inside of this game is on. It is constant progress and mastering the fundamentals, technique and scheme.”