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Tennessee football roster: Projecting the Vols’ 2017 2-deep depth chart

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 12, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view of Neyland Stadium at halftime during the game between Tennessee Volunteers and the Oklahoma Sooners. Oklahoma won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view of Neyland Stadium at halftime during the game between Tennessee Volunteers and the Oklahoma Sooners. Oklahoma won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 30, 2016; Nashville , TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Rashaan Gaulden (7) breaks up a pass intended for Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Brandon Reilly (87) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2016; Nashville , TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Rashaan Gaulden (7) breaks up a pass intended for Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Brandon Reilly (87) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

Nickel

1. Rashaan Gaulden

Coming back from a season-ending injury last year, Rashaan Gaulden had some growing pains and had to split time with Malik Foreman. However, he still started eight games and was very productive with six tackles for a loss, four passes broken up, a forced fumble, and a quarterback hurry.

And this year, the starting nickel job is all his. Look for the 6’1″ 185-pound redshirt junior to finally reach the hype he had two years ago before his season-ending injury. Remember, he was a four-star junior college transfer whom the coaches immediately fell in love with.

That injury really set him back. But this year, he is the clear-cut starter at nickel, and he should be a major playmaker in the process for the Vols. Look for a potential star breakout year from Gaulden this season.

2. Baylen Buchanan

Baylen Buchanan broke out last year as a surprising three-star freshman who was the first guy to have his helmet stripe removed in August. Now, he is a regular in the Tennessee football secondary rotation.

This year, though, we do have him No. 5 among the cornerbacks. That’s more about the improvements among other guys, though, and the arrival of Shaq Wiggins. Still, the sophomore could easily see lots of action on the field, as he’s one injury away from that.

We have him as the No. 2 nickel spot just so this position has a backup. But he is definitely a hybrid who could fit in at backup cornerback as well.

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