Jonathan Kongbo signed with Tennessee in 2016 as the nation’s No. 1 junior college prospect with three years of eligibility remaining.



Last season, he capped a career full of position changes, coaching changes and far more losses than he expected. As a senior in 2018, he made 11 tackles with four quarterback hurries and had an interception in the Vols’ upset win against Auburn. That same game, he tore his ACL, an injury that has sidelined him and slowed his ability to show off for NFL teams.



Kongbo recently spoke with The Athletic about his time in Knoxville. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.



How would you describe the last year at Tennessee?



I think the last year was a step toward a right direction for the program. Under Butch Jones, I just felt like there were a lot of people in administrative roles that shouldn’t be there. That shouldn’t be working with kids. They were just there for their own selfish...