Nickel
1. Rashaan Gaulden
2015-2017
Is there any debate about this one? Corner is a bit thin since key guys like Bryce Thompson haven’t proven enough yet. That leaves nickel thin. But Rashaan Gaulden, a junior college transfer who joined Tennessee football in 2015, isn’t a question. After but he suffered a season-ending injury, Gaulden came back in 2016 and turned into a great player for Rocky Top.
Gaulden was a true nickel who could play anywhere in the secondary and was physical while thriving in coverage. With nine and a half tackles for a loss, a forced fumble, and interception and nine pass deflections his final two years, Gaulden did everything necessary. And then he captured all Vols fans’ hearts by flipping off the Alabama Crimson Tide crowd in 2017.
2. Micah Abernathy
2015-2018
Throughout his four-year tenure on Rocky Top, Micah Abernathy struggled with consistency because he was moved around all the time. However, down the stretch of his senior year, Jeremy Pruitt finally found the right spot for him. A career safety, Abernathy moved to nickel and became a star in the system.
With two interceptions in 2016 and three tackles for a loss in 2016 and 2018, his versatility makes him a valuable backup nickel on this roster. Abernathy was a Butch Jones recruit but really did find himself in Pruitt’s system, and with issues at nickel all decade, he earned a spot here. Shawn Shamburger still could have reached this spot, but he has a bit more work to do.