Quote from Vols defensive back should excite fans about Tennessee's secondary
One of the biggest questions facing the Tennessee Vols in 2024 revolves around the program's new look secondary. Tennessee lost several contributors to the NCAA transfer portal after the 2023 season. Brandon Turnage, Tamarion McDonald, Doneiko Slaughter, Wesley Walker, and Warren Burrell each hit the portal after seeing significant action in Tennessee's secondary the last […]
One of the biggest questions facing the Tennessee Vols in 2024 revolves around the program's new look secondary.
Tennessee lost several contributors to the NCAA transfer portal after the 2023 season. Brandon Turnage, Tamarion McDonald, Doneiko Slaughter, Wesley Walker, and Warren Burrell each hit the portal after seeing significant action in Tennessee's secondary the last couple of seasons. Jack Luttrell and De'Shawn Rucker, young players who didn't see much action for the Vols, also transferred.
Additionally, cornerback Kamal Hadden and safety Jaylen McCollough played their final seasons at Tennessee in 2023. Neither player has eligibility remaining.
The Vols will turn to a mix of youth, new transfer additions, and some returning veterans to carry the load in Tennessee's secondary this fall.
One of those returning veterans, redshirt junior defensive back Andre Turrentine, is excited about the new additions to the roster.
Turrentine thinks the Vols have more playmakers in the secondary entering the 2024 season.
"The play-making ability has gone up in the room," said Turrentine on Monday. "It's a highly competitive room right now with guys fighting for a spot. The playmaking ability has been tremendous. Guys making plays on the ball. Guys just knowing what to do. Knowing football within the call, knowing how to play the game within the game — this chess game we play. I would say the playmaking ability, making plays on the ball, and then just understanding the concepts within football."
Tennessee added Oregon State cornerback Jermod McCoy, MTSU safety Jakobe Thomas, and Temple cornerback Jalen McMurray to the roster via the transfer portal. The Vols also signed Boo Carter, an electric athlete who can play safety, while also returning kicks.
Carter, despite being a true freshman, is already impressing coaches and teammates.
Vols secondary coach Willie Martinez called Tennessee's secondary "an athletic group" and "really fast" this week, which seems to suggest that Turrentine is spot-on with his statement that UT has more playmakers in the secondary in 2024.
Secondary play has been up-and-down at times for the Vols over the last several seasons. If that group can make some significant improvements going into this fall, the sky could be the limit for Tennessee in 2024.
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