Vols' Kongbo eager to bounce back from disappointing year

(AP) — Tennessee defensive end Jonathan Kongbo says he's ready to live up to the hype that accompanied his arrival after a disappointing year that he describes as a "culture shock."

The Volunteers need someone to emerge as a pass rusher as they try to replace Philadelphia Eagles first-round draft pick Derek Barnett , who had 33 career sacks to break Reggie White's school record .

Senior safety Todd Kelly Jr. says Kongbo has been one of the team's hardest workers this offseason.

Tennessee coach Butch Jones says the biggest difference with Kongbo this year is in the pass rusher's confidence level.

Kongbo is attempting to bounce back from a season in which his only sack came in a Music City Bowl victory over Nebraska , though he did score on a 59-yard interception return against Missouri .

The tweet led to concern among fans that Kongbo was thinking about leaving the program, though Jones insisted afterward that the lineman was simply responding to a loss in a FIFA video game.

[...] that he has a year of SEC experience and is back home at defensive end, Kongbo wants to make a bigger impact.