Last week, a consensus four-star defensive lineman, Zach Groves, committed to the Tennessee Volunteers over Georgia and nearly 30 other schools.
Groves is Tennessee’s eighth commit from the class of 2026, and he joins CJ Edwards as the second edge rusher that the Vols picked up from that class. Listed at 6-4 252 pounds, the East Robertson standout ranks as the No. 7 player from the state of Tennessee according to 247Sports.
Although he had multiple offers from schools such as Georgia, Ole Miss, and Southern California, Groves ultimately chose the Vols after being impressed by their coaching staff.
“I don’t know how to explain it,” Groves said. “It’s just, like, the people there. As soon as I got up there, it’s like I’ve been knowing them since I’ve been alive. It’s crazy.”
So, what kind of potential will Groves bring to the Volunteers in 2026?
Background
Groves comes from a talented family of athletes. One of his older brothers, Elijah Groves, is a linebacker at North Carolina State, and his other brother, Isaiah Groves, is a freshman running back at Austin Peay.
Additionally, his cousin, Taylor Groves, played two seasons of football at Ole Miss before transferring to Vol State Community College to play basketball.
Outside of his family, Groves is an athlete himself. Not only has he played varsity football since he was a freshman, but he also played varsity basketball.
In addition to playing defensive line, Groves received snaps at tight end. Last season, Groves had 19 catches for 395 yards and five touchdowns. However, defense is where Groves excelled.
| Year | Tck | TFL | Sck | PBU | FF | FR | FRTD | IntTD | Int |
| 2024 | 65 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
In 2024, Groves finished with 65 tackles, 21 tackles for a loss, and four sacks. He even recorded four pass breakups and scored two defensive touchdowns. His on-the-field performance aided East Robertson to a 10-2 record and a second-round appearance in the TSSAA Class 2A state playoffs.
| Year | Tck | TFL | Sck | PBU | FF | FR | FRTD | IntTD | Int |
| 2023 | 72 | 27.5 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 1 | – | – | 2 |
As a sophomore in 2023, Groves led his team to a 2A state championship appearance. During that year, Groves had his best statistical season, finishing with 72 tackles, eight sacks, and a staggering 27.5 tackles for a loss. He was also a turnover-forcing machine, causing eight forced fumbles and two interceptions.
| Year | Tck | TFL | Sck | PBU | FF | FR | FRTD | IntTD | Int |
| 2022 | 40 | 9 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
In 2022, Groves recorded nine tackles for a loss and two sacks as a freshman.
Breakdown on Zach Groves
Groves is a defensive lineman who possesses a quick reaction time. He routinely beats offensive linemen off of blocks within his first few steps. He also utilizes swim moves as his primary tactic for defeating blockers.
Groves sometimes stands up in a two-point stance as an outside linebacker, but he primarily lines up in a traditional three-point stance.
While some defensive linemen tend to focus on sacks and get burned in the running game, this isn’t the case for Groves. He is very instinctive when it comes to finding the football. If the quarterback is handing the ball off, Groves seems to recognize it immediately and makes a stop in the backfield.
In addition to snuffing out runs, he also reacts under pressure. During a play in his junior season, he correctly read a screen to the running back and caught an interception for a touchdown.
Speed and elite reaction time seem to be the most significant strengths for Groves. Also, his long, 6-4 frame will allow him to gain more mass while he is at Tennessee.
The only downsides to Groves seem to be his level of competition. Groves played in Division 2A for his high school career, so he often played against smaller schools. Because of this, Groves rarely showed his strength because his speed was more than enough.
However, it won’t be as easy for Groves to use his speed in the SEC. Plus, some of these SEC offensive tackles can be as large as 6-7, 330 pounds, so Groves will have to develop a strong bull rush to combat larger opponents.
Luckily for Groves, he will be learning from one of the most experienced defensive line coaches in the country, Rodney Garner.
Rodney Garner
Garner has nearly 40 years of coaching experience in the SEC, having coached several NFL players and college legends, including Richard Seymour, David Pollack, and James Pearce Jr.
Garner has also developed 10 All-Americans and eight NFL Draft first-round picks throughout his career.
Last season, the Vols finished sixth in the FBS for total defense and 10th for rushing defense, and Garner’s defensive line was one of the main reasons for that success.
So, Groves should be a fine piece for Tennessee’s defensive line in 2026. Considering that the Vols like to rotate several linemen during games, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Groves get reps in 2026.
