A way-too-early look at Tennessee’s 2020 defensive backs.
It is well-documented that Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt and defensive coordinator/secondary coach Derrick Ansley both take great pride in great defensive back play, and the 2020 unit will return everyone with the exception of outgoing senior Nigel Warrior, who stepped up as one of UT’s most consistent tacklers and leaders in 2019.
Year three of the Pruitt era brings a blend of young talent and experienced players that are now familiar with Tennessee’s unique defensive schemes.
At cornerback, the Vols likely will start rising juniors Bryce Thompson and Alontae Taylor, who got off to a fast start during their 2018 freshman campaigns, but did not quite take the next step that was expected in 2019.
Thompson missed the first chunk of Tennessee’s season due to suspension, and came back rusty, but settled into his role late in the season. Taylor struggled to a slow start highlighted by a missed assignment that helped BYU send a week two game into overtime and eventually won, but also eventually reclaimed his starting spot after being benched. If both can stay healthy and out of trouble, big things will be expected out of Tennessee’s starting cornerbacks in 2020.
Rising sophomore Warren Burrell was thrown into the fire as a freshman during Thompson’s suspension, but showed flashes and is a player this staff has high expectations for. There is also the possibility of redshirt senior Baylen Buchanan coming into the fold after missing all of 2019 due to an offseason injury. Buchanan has more experience than any other corner on Tennessee’s roster and could be a big help for the depth of this unit.
Pruitt and Ansley have a penchant for sending corners in on blitzes, often from the Star position in which rising senior Shawn Shamburger occupied for much of 2019. This helped Shamburger finish fifth on the team in tackles with 47, and added on three sacks and 4.5 TFLs. Also a good cover corner, Shamburger will be a heavy part of the 2020 rotation. Buchanan can step into this spot if healthy, as well.
Former JUCO transfer Kenneth George Jr. will be a redshirt senior in 2020, and got his first extended action last season after suffering a season-ending injury in 2018. George had a career night with six tackles against Georgia, and will will factor in after impressing in some moments.
Don’t rule out rising redshirt sophomore Tyus Fields making an impact, after coming to campus as a 4-star recruit in the 2019 class and playing in just four games to preserve his redshirt. Kenney Solomon also adds depth as a sophomore former walk-on who earned his scholarship.
Newcomer Keyshawn Lawrence signed for Tennessee in the Early Signing Period for the 2020 class, and was rated the No. 4 safety prospect in the country and No. 1 prospect in the state on the 247Sports Composite out of Ensworth High School. Electric with the ball in his hands, Lawrence could make the switch to corner and slide into the Star spot or sit back and showcase his ballhawking capabilities. Pruitt and his defensive staff are incredibly excited to have Lawrence on campus and he will almost certainly make an impact in 2020.
At strong safety, Jaylen McCollough came on late at the end of his true freshman season to allow this staff to trust him with important snaps. Possibly the only clear-cut replacement for Warrior, the player nicknamed Tank tackles like a linebacker at 6-foot, 204-pounds and will play plenty of snaps close to the line of scrimmage. McCollough posted 28 tackles and two TFLs in the final seven weeks and finished the season with seven tackles, a TFL, and a pass breakup in the Gator Bowl victory over Indiana. Look for McCollough to shift to the Money position at times in Pruitt’s secondary, as well.
Rising sophomore Trevon Flowers is likely the best bet to start next to Tank. Flowers broke his leg shortly after his first career interception in the win over Mississippi State, causing him to miss the last seven games of the season.
Theo Jackson could work his way into the starting lineup during his senior season as well, after appearing in 12 games and starting five while finishing fourth on the team in tackles with 53 in 2019. Rising sophomore Aaron Beasley could also work his way into the lineup, after playing in nine games, mostly on special teams in 2019.
An x-factor in this group is Georgia transfer Deangelo Gibbs, who sat out 2019 after joining the Vols from Athens. A former 5-star athlete, Gibbs played safety for Georgia, but the general thought was that he would make the switch to wide receiver in Knoxville.
Finally, incoming freshmen Keshawn Lawrence, Doneiko Slaughter, and Tamarion McDonald could make an impact in 2020. None of the signees’ positions have been finalized within Tennessee’s defense, and likely will not be in until fall camp.
