Comments from Tennessee Vols player this week should get fans excited for 2023
A comment from Tennessee Vols junior Tamarion McDonald this week should have UT fans excited for the 2023 season. McDonald met with reporters on Tuesday and he was asked about Tennessee's early enrollees and how they've looked so far during bowl game practices (15 early enrollees "They all look pretty good," said McDonald. "They all […]
A comment from Tennessee Vols junior Tamarion McDonald this week should have UT fans excited for the 2023 season.
McDonald met with reporters on Tuesday and he was asked about Tennessee's early enrollees and how they've looked so far during bowl game practices (15 early enrollees
"They all look pretty good," said McDonald. "They all look good actually. I've seen the DBs (defensive backs), they've been thrown in there a little bit — they've been making plays so far."
Tennessee's biggest weakness last season was easily their pass defense. And the best way to fix that issue is through recruiting. The NCAA transfer portal can help, but ultimately, the most sustainable way to have a consistently above-average secondary is through recruiting.
McDonald's comments are encouraging because the Vols will need young defensive backs to step up in the next couple of seasons if Tennessee's pass defense is going to improve dramatically. It's certainly a good sign that they hit the ground running as soon as they arrived in Knoxville last week.
Tennessee's offense is the best in the nation. But if they're going to win a national championship, they need the defense to step up. It sounds like they're getting the guys in place that they need for the defense to play at an elite level in the coming years.
Featured image via Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
