Tennessee football: 10 bold predictions for Vols 2020 spring practice

6. Deangelo Gibbs will get another look at defensive back.

Last year, Deangelo Gibbs transferred to Tennessee football from the Georgia Bulldogs. Once a four-star athlete, he played safety for Georgia and was always going to sit out in 2019. In the process, though, Jeremy Pruitt moved him from defensive back to wide receiver. With Marquez Callaway and Jauan Jennings both gone, it makes sense to give him a look there now.

However, by the time spring practice settles, Gibbs will move back to defensive back. Believe it or not, due to some returning talent and key transfers, the Vols are still deeper at receiver than they are at defensive back. Josh Palmer, Brandon Johnson and Ramel Keyton are there, three new four-stars were added plus two athletes, and Miles Jones and Velus Jones Jr. transferred.

As a result, the Vols still have options at receiver. Where they may have an issue, however, is safety. Jaylen McCullough figures to take a major step forward, but with Nigel Warrior gone, there is an opening. After all, Trevon Flowers is returning from a broken leg, so his readiness is up in the air. New commitments at safety won’t arrive until the summer.

That leaves room for Gibbs, a 6’1″ 200-pound redshirt junior, as a guy who could get a real look there. He already has experience playing safety in the SEC, and he is familiar with Pruitt’s schemes since he played safety for Kirby Smart. As a result, Pruitt will move him back there by the time summer workouts arrive. He needs more help at the position.