KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The 2017 offseason is one of change and turning the page to the next chapter of Butch Jones’ program.

One individual who is determined to turn things around is Vols defensive end Jonathan Kongbo. He played in all 13 games in 2016 and his first tackle and first quarterback hurry came at the Battle at Bristol against Virginia Tech. Kongbo totaled 4 tackles (2 tackles for loss) and his lone sack of the season against Nebraska. He also returned an interception off Drew Lock for a 59-yard touchdown in the win versus Missouri.

It was a solid rookie campaign, but there was always a but …

Kongbo came to Tennessee as the No. 1 JUCO player in the nation and Jones and his staff worked hard to bring him to Knoxville.

Last season, Kongbo, a natural defensive end, played out of position to help the team battle through injuries. It might not have been ideal to play on the inside of the defensive line, but that was part of the maturation process.

“It feels good (being back at defensive end),” Kongbo said during spring practices. “But honestly, playing inside, I got to learn a lot. I think it’s helped me step my game up, as far as being more physical and things like that.”

Kongbo has moved around a lot in his life and he is now settling in at Knoxville. He was born in the Congo, then moved to Canada when he was 5 years old. Kongbo began playing football as a senior while at Holy Cross H.S. in Surrey, British Columbia. He then redshirted as a true freshman at the University of Wyoming before transferring to Arizona Western College, where he played the 2015 season before coming to Tennessee.

He finally feels at home going into his second season at Tennessee.

“I feel like I’m finally at home, I feel like I’ve finally set down roots,” he said. “There was a time last year where I didn’t really feel at home at all times. But as far as maturing, I just know my environment now and I know kind of how to act around here.

“Really, I think it was all just a learning experience. There was times last year where it was really tough for me, but I think one thing I learned was just perseverance, just to persevere and keep working hard.”

The hard times of last year was highlighted by a Tweet he sent out of cleats with the caption referring to all things come to and end.

The tweet sparked conversation of Kongbo’s future, but he has since laid any talk of him leaving to rest.

“I feel like on one part I am to blame,” the redshirt junior said of the tweet. “It was kind of immaturity and as far as people’s reactions, I mean, this is Tennessee, right? I should have known – I think it was just kind of like the big stage of Tennessee football. I didn’t realize how big of a deal people made things around here. I would say that was the biggest adjustment.”

The stage of Tennessee and the expectations are much different from playing at Wyoming and Arizona Western College and Kongbo is ready to build off his 2016 experience into more production in 2017.