Similar to Tim Jordan, Baylen Buchanan is a fundamentals guy on the defensive side of the ball. And similar to Jordan, Buchanan is going to be a part-time starter for Tennessee football in 2019. Finally, similar to Jordan, Buchanan also comes from a direct pipeline state for the Vols, one that has always been there.
The son of Ray Buchanan, Baylen Buchanan continues the tradition of UT defensive backs who come from Georgia and are the sons of NFL defensive backs. There’s another one on this list, and Eric Berry is the most notable player who fits that mold.
Coming out of the Atlanta suburb of Lawrenceville in Gwinnett County, Buchanan is probably going to be the full-time starter at nickel this year. He has a deep understanding of the game and a certain level of intelligence that makes him a very valuable asset in Jeremy Pruitt’s system.
Last year, Buchanan showed his versatility as a physical defensive back with 49 tackles and three tackles for a loss. However, he was still a major player in pass coverage, deflecting four passes and forcing and recovering a fumble. So he can do it all, and his frame and athleticism combined with his intelligence make him the perfect player to start at nickel this year as a senior.