Here is an analysis of incoming 2016 Tennessee football newcomer Marquill Osborne, who joins the Vols as a defensive back.
After the loss of two safeties from last year and two cornerbacks set to leave after this year, Butch Jones wasted no time making sure that the Volunteers were safe in the secondary for the future.
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He did so by bringing in five defensive backs, and one of the highlights of that class was Marquill Osborne.
A four-star on Rivals, Osborne comes in at about 5’11” 183 pounds and is a natural cornerback, which is where he will probably stay in college. He joins an elite defensive back recruiting class that sets the Vols up nicely for the future.
The Charlotte, N.C. prospect kept the pipeline into ACC country for Jones and Tennessee football, and his chance to play for a defensive genius like Bob Shoop has to have him even more excited than he initially was.
But Osborne was a loyal Vol from the start, committing back in 2014. This was clearly the place he wanted to be, and it sets him up nicely. Let’s take a look at what he brings to the table.
Early Analysis
Osborne may be small, but he is a physical cornerback who loves to make contact with people. His biggest strength was his ability to execute bump and run coverage, and he is so clean with it that he might bump you a bit down the field and get away with it.
But that’s what the great cornerbacks are supposed to do.
Think of a Cortland Finnegan-type player. Osborne has that type of tenacity. He can chase down running backs and get off blocks as well to make tackles, and it’s not like he doesn’t have the speed.
However, Osborne probably won’t get away with that as much at the next level, so the most important thing for him to do his first year in Knoxville is be able to learn how to play physical without taking chances.
There are lots of elite receivers in the SEC who could beat him doing that. Still, a bump and run corner is what the Vols need for the future. Osborne won’t be a Cameron Sutton, but he will definitely be a fierce competitor.
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What Marquill Osborne Brings to Tennessee
All the adjectives you love when describing a football player apply to Marquill Osborne. He has tenacity, toughness, loves to hit, and is smart. All of that makes up for his relatively small frame.
Osborne also has the athleticism to go with it, and the fact that he is an athletic cornerback who loves to get physical is a huge plus for the Vols going forward. He has already practiced with the team a lot, and he is already making headlines.
Jones said earlier this year that the No. 2 cornerback spot is still open, and expect Osborne to be in the hunt for that spot. If he does not get in the rotation this year, he will definitely be in there the next few years.
Jones found a true competitor in Osborne who has all the intangibles and the physical skills to match them. Vols fans will love him for years to come.