All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football: Ranking position groups for the 2018 football season

By Billy Williford

ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 1: Jauan Jennings #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers rides the shoulders of Gavin Bryant #36 after making the game winning catch against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 1: Jauan Jennings #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers rides the shoulders of Gavin Bryant #36 after making the game winning catch against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 9
Next
Tennessee football
TUSCALOOSA, AL – OCTOBER 21: Shawn Shamburger #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers loses his mouthguard as he reacts to a fumble by Irv Smith Jr. #82 of the Alabama Crimson Tide into the back of the end zone at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 21, 2017, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

No. 8 Defensive Backs

No surprise here but the defensive backs find their way into the No. 9 slot in our rankings. Now, let me preface this and say that the defensive backs aren’t lame or anything. They just aren’t as good as the other position groups on the team.

Key Players

Nigel Warrior – JR

Todd Kelly Jr – R/SR

Micah Abernathy – SR

Shawn Shamburger – SO

Baylen Buchanan – JR

Alontae Taylor – FR

Bryce Thompson – FR

More from All for Tennessee

There are a couple of key players that could change this ranking completely and move the defensive backs to one of the strongest units on the team.

Shawn Shamburger and Baylen Buchanan received the start during the annual Orange and White Game. However, the defensive backfield could look a lot different at the start of the season.

Freshmen Alontae Taylor and Bryce Thompson have been more than impressive during summer camp and the first week of the fall camp. They could earn their way into a starting position.

Behind them are two veterans and both have revealed a lot of skill during their playing careers. Todd Kelly Jr. should be ready to go for the start of the season. And, then there is arguably the best player on the defensive side of the ball in Nigel Warrior.

As we mentioned, a lot can change especially if Taylor and Thompson display that they can play on the SEC level.

Home/Vols Football