Tennessee football: 10 Vols freshmen most likely to play early in 2018

Terrell Bailey took a redshirt for Tennessee football last year. He comes back with a little more experience and a great chance to see action on the field. Like Bryce Thompson, he has a great chance at playing simply due to the sheer fact of playing at a position that’s wide open.

Unlike Thompson, Bailey has another leg up. The guy practiced with the first-team defense at times during the spring. As a result, he is one of the top guys who figures to see action this year for the Vols. The only question is how much and where.

Bailey won’t start or be in the main secondary rotation at all. But he’s versatile enough to play different positions on the field. So look for him to potentially play nickel and some corner. And if there’s a dime package out there, he could definitely see the field a good bit.

Given the reps Bailey got in the spring and the need for the Vols at cornerback, he should be in better position than most players to secure a role in the defense. After all, the transition to the 3-4 is difficult enough even with experience practicing in it. However, one thing working against him is how bad the first-team secondary struggled in the spring.

Overall, Bailey is an all-round defensive back who doesn’t really have a weakness but doesn’t have a strength either. Still, that versatility could serve him well, and as he continues to develop, Jeremy Pruitt and Kevin Sherrer should need him at some point this season.