Jaylen McCullough is one of six defensive backs who commitments who committed to Tennessee football in 2019, one of five who are actually on the roster this year, one of three four-stars and one of two safeties. He is also among three early enrollees in the secondary, all of whom are four-stars, joining Tyus Fields and Warren Burrell.
However, McCullough is the only four-star safety and the only early enrollee at safety. As a result, he has the best chance of seeing action. After all, cornerback is locked up with Bryce Thompson and Alontae Taylor, and nickel will come down to Shawn Shamburger and Baylen Buchanan.
Safety is the one spot that has a major opening. Sure, Nigel Warrior has the strong safety spot secured. But free safety could go anywhere. And despite Trevon Flowers being the favorite to start there, McCullough has a great chance to work his way into that rotation. Jeremy Pruitt knows how to evaluate talent there, after all.
If you have any questions about his chances of playing, just go back to the spring game. McCullough shocked Vol Nation with two interceptions in that game and, as Derrick Ansley rightly pointed out, should have been MVP over Jarrett Guarantano. Well, with fall camp underway, he now has more chances to prove his value. So watch out for what he’s able to do in the future.