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Tennessee football: 10 Vols who need a good spring practice for 2019

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: Offensive lineman Marcus Tatum #68 of the Tennessee Volunteers guards Zachary Carter #17 of the Florida Gators during the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: Offensive lineman Marcus Tatum #68 of the Tennessee Volunteers guards Zachary Carter #17 of the Florida Gators during the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images
Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images /

Despite all of that talk surrounding the offensive linemen, Tennessee football still has needs and competition elsewhere. And one of those major areas of competition is at defensive back, specifically cornerback.

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    • Baylen Buchanan is entering his senior year trying to find a role in there. we already mentioned Nigel Warrior, but he is a more proven player and plays safety. Buchanan, meanwhile, is more of a true cornerback.

    The problem with him is those positions are set with Bryce Thompson and Alontae Taylor, who were elite last year. So Buchanan has to find a way to fit in as a nickel or maybe, if he gets lucky, at the other safety position.

    But that position has guys like Trevon Flowers, Theo Jackson and Shawn Shamburger competing for it. Simply put, entering his senior year, Buchanan’s best chance for a full-time role is at nickel, and there’s no guarantee he’ll get a role there.

    Another guy from a football family, Buchanan is the son of former NFL all-star Ray Buchanan. He doesn’t have the raw athleticism many cornerbacks have, but he’s always been a smart player. Something like that makes him a perfect fit for nickel, and after a year in Jeremy Pruitt’s 3-4 system, he should stand out more.

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    But with new defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley running the show, Buchanan has got a lot of work to do. That means he has the most pressure of anybody this spring to make a statement. It’s his best chance to be put in position to finish his Tennessee football career with a bang as he enters his final season in the fall.

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