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Tennessee football: Ranking Vols 10 early enrollees for 2019 spring practice

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: A view of the outside of Neyland Stadium before a game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers on September 15, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: A view of the outside of Neyland Stadium before a game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers on September 15, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images) /
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We’ve already documented the need for depth at cornerback and the potential for a starter at nickel. But an even greater need for Tennessee football is to shore up the safety spot, which is why Jaylen McCollough is so high up.

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    • A four-star safety on Rivals, McCollough is the only true safety among the six defensive backs committed in 2019 to actually be an early enrollee. That is going to give him a huge jump on so many other people.

    The Vols lost Todd Kelly Jr. and Micah Abernathy at safety this past year. Meanwhile, Nigel Warrior wasn’t amazing, so don’t be surprised if he struggles to keep his job going into his senior year. He at least needs to develop and take a step forward.

    Outside of Warrior, though, only Trevon Flowers, Shawn Shamburger and Theo Jackson have any experience playing safety. But, as we said, they could be in the nickel rotation. That leaves the potential for one and maybe two wide open safety spots.

    Oh, and don’t forget that as a safety, McCollough likely has the skills to be in the running to play nickel as well. Simply put, he has an advantage over every defensive back in this class as an early enrollee committed at safety.

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    Add in McCollough’s talent as a four-star and the fact that he comes from Georgia, Jeremy Pruitt’s favorite place to recruit, and he has many advantages. With new defensive backs coach and coordinator Derrick Ansley at the helm, McCollough could become a star pretty quickly for Rocky Top. His early arrival is a huge deal.

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