Ethan Utley flashed a big white smile often as he took photos with family and friends on Wednesday.
The Ensworth defensive lineman smiled again when asked about Tennessee football defensive coordinator Tim Banks.
“I give props to Coach Banks on his scheme and how he’s able to get people in position to be successful,” Utley said a few hours after signing with the Vols. “Knowing we have guys that are talented in that position — he could be a head coach anywhere he wants, but he chose to be the defensive coordinator under (UT) Coach (Josh) Heupel.”
Banks, who is in his fourth season, was named a semifinalist for the Frank Broyles Award last week. The honor is presented annually to the nation’s top FBS assistant coach.
“I expect nothing less from him,” Utley said. “He’s just relatable. He does a great job understanding you more than you understand yourself, as far as he knows what you can be as a player, and that’s the expectation he holds you to. Guys like Boo Carter, who’s playing a lot as a freshman, it shows the trust he has in young guys who step up and play. And I plan on being one of those guys.”
Utley, at 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, is a four-star prospect ranked the No. 3 overall recruit from Tennessee in the 2025 class and No. 21 defensive lineman nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s one of three Tennessee Titans Division II-AAA Mr. Football finalists and helped lead Ensworth to an 11-1 season and a berth in the TSSAA football state semifinals. 
Utley said UT’s improvement on defense definitely mattered when he committed initially back in March.
Heupel leaned more heavily on offense in the early years of reviving UT’s program. But the Vols are putting up some of the nation’s best defensive numbers now under Banks. They rank No. 5 in total defense, No. 9 in rushing yards allowed and No. 16 in passing yards allowed this season.
Utley likes that Banks uses three- and four-man defensive fronts. That’s good in Utley’s case, because he doesn’t know if he’ll play on the outside or inside of the defensive line yet. Defensive line coach Rodney Gardner has told Utley he’ll likely need to be versatile.
“Knowing my frame, I can hold up a sloppy 285 pounds and play just inside, or be a lean 285 and play outside and inside,” Utley said. “I think I’ll fit into the defense perfectly fine. I trust Tennessee will put me in the best position.”
Ensworth first-year coach Tim Hasselbeck thinks Utley is even more versatile than that.
VOLS:How Tennessee football improved in-state recruiting going into signing day 2024
Hasselbeck, a former NFL quarterback and ESPN football analyst, believes Utley could play tight end in college if a staff wanted. He played that position for Ensworth this season in addition to defense.
“The job he did in terms of running routes and stuff, how natural and easy it was for him at times. If you want to transform and be a tight end, I think he could do that,” Hasselbeck said. “I’m sure they have good plans for him, and I’m pretty sure it’s on the defensive side of the ball. But that stuff can change.”
