KNOXVILLE — Tennessee (1-0, 1-0 SEC) will host Missouri (0-1, 0-1 SEC) in Week 2 of the 2020 season Saturday at Neyland Stadium (noon EDT, SEC Network).
In the Vols’ 31-27 victory at South Carolina in Week 1, Tennessee saw its starting STAR defender Shawn Shamburger out, while cornerback Warren Burrell and safety Jaylen McCollough were limited.
“We had three guys that were out for most of our preparation last week, we’ve got two of them back, so that will be a positive in having Jaylen and Warren Burrell back,” Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt said ahead of playing Missouri. “It gets guys used to where they’re playing some of the same spots.
“Until you play in live settings, which Tank (McCollough) got to do and Warren did a little bit last week, got to be in tackling space, got to play the ball, got to be able to play man-to-man, got to be able to make calls as they give you different formations and stuff. I’m sure these guys, like I, hope the rest of the secondary does, I hope we continue to work hard and improve — and as the game goes Saturday, we get better as the game goes.”
Pruitt also mentioned that “if everything works out” someone like Shamburger could be “back very soon.”
Last week, Bryce Thompson started at safety and played the Vols’ robber position.
“Bryce is a guy that has been in our system for a couple of years,” Pruitt said. “From a conceptual standpoint, we just felt like that was the best thing to do.”
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