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

This one might shock some people. Nigel Warrior is a Tennessee football legacy player, and he has been a regular in the starting lineup for two years while seeing significant action for three. It’s clear the guy is a complete player with few weaknesses.

However, last year, as a strong safety, he did not make the impact somebody with his talent should make. Warrior saw a drop in tackles by nearly 20 to 64 overall with only 1 tackle for a loss. He had no interceptions and no forced fumbles either after a pick-six and three forced fumbles in 2017.

On top of that all, Jeremy Pruitt struck big on the recruiting trail at defensive back. Combine that with the high quality of some of the young defensive backs and how they played last year, and it’s clear that Dale Carer Jr.’s son needs to work to hold onto his starting job. That’s where a big spring comes into play.

There is plenty of reason to believe in Warrior in general. One of the reasons he probably struggled was due to the fact that safeties always have trouble picking up the 3-4 their first year. But with a new defensive backs coach, the pressure is on. Warrior has got to take it up to another level this year. If he doesn’t other guys are going to pass him, and that will be a very bad look.