Tennessee football: 10 Vols who should have breakout seasons in 2019

It’s pretty clear that Trevon Flowers is the favorite to take that one open starting safety spot for Tennessee football alongside Nigel Warrior. Theo Jackson and Maleik Gray both have experience there, and Jaylen McCullough was a breakout star in the spring game.

But Flowers, despite missing a good portion of last season due to a collarbone injury, received all the love from Jeremy Pruitt and Charles Kelly, and now he’s receiving love from Derrick Ansley. Despite only being a three-star recruit, it’s clear he’s very athletic. And that rating was due to him playing baseball in the spring and not attending camps.

Baseball, though, is a perfect transition to playing safety. And Flowers used that to be able to play in seven games last year despite his injury, even earning a start in the Vols’ season-opener against the West Virginia Mountaineers.

His ability to be able to cover a lot of ground makes him the perfect player to be a free safety, and he could emerge into a major star this year. Bryce Thompson’s and Alontae Taylor’s talents at corner also give him a lot more freedom to roam and make big plays than many other safeties would have. So he should turn into an elite talent this year.