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Tennessee football roster: Projecting Vols’ 2019 2-deep depth chart

By Caleb Calhoun

LEXINGTON, KY - OCTOBER 28: Daniel Bituli #35 and Nigel Warrior #18 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrate a recovered fumble against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - OCTOBER 28: Daniel Bituli #35 and Nigel Warrior #18 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrate a recovered fumble against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images
Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images /

Nickel

1. Baylen Buchanan

Senior, 5’11” 196 pounds

As the third cornerback in the rotation, Baylen Buchanan is clearly going to be the starter at nickel. Tennessee football has a veteran in Buchanan who can pick up defensive schemes more quickly than anybody, and his football pedigree as the son of Ray Buchanan combined with his intelligence will make him a very valuable nickel back.

Buchanan has the talent to start at cornerback anywhere else. He just doesn’t bring the athleticism Alontae Taylor or Bryce Thompson do, which is why he has moved to nickel. However, he’ll still see plenty of action. Expect Buchanan to be a very physical player and have a great senior season locking up slot receivers. He’s been doing it well for three years. Now he has one year to himself here.

2. Shawn Shamburger

Junior, 5’11” 186 pounds

The fifth cornerback in Jeremy Pruitt’s rotation, Shawn Shamburger is going to be the No. 2 nickel back. That rotation obviously kept him off the first string in the spring game, but he’ll still have room to be in the rotation during the season. Shamburger is physical and can guard receivers pretty well.

After all, there has to be a backup nickel. Now, it’s safe to say Cheyenne Labruzza is ahead of Shamburger here, but until Buchanan gets hurt, Shamburger will be the guy to come in when Buchanan needs some rest in games. So he’s No. 2 here, and he does have experience starting in the nickel position. Remember, even as a freshman in 2017, he leapt off the screen as a playmaker at times.

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