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Tennessee football’s top 10 injury concerns for 2020

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: Defensive back Baylen Buchanan #28 of the Tennessee Volunteers between plays during the game between the UTEP Miners and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-0. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: Defensive back Baylen Buchanan #28 of the Tennessee Volunteers between plays during the game between the UTEP Miners and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-0. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images
Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images /

Pick Analysis. Defensive Back. Redshirt Junior. Scouting Report. Cheyenne Labruzza. 9. player. 839

All the talk that surrounds Bryce Thompson, Alontae Taylor and Shawn Shamburger makes people forget that Tennessee football is lacking when it comes to depth at the nickel position. One of the guys who is able to help provide such depth and is a veteran in the program is rising redshirt junior Cheyenne Labruzaa. Rocky Top needs him.

Once a Louisiana commitment to Butch Jones’ program back in 2017, Labruzza underwent season-ending knee surgery in October of that year after seeing a good bit of action. He was part of a rash of injuries that proved to be an indictment against the way the conditioning was under Jones, something Jeremy Pruitt immediately had to overhaul when he arrived.

Now, the good news for the 5’11” 188-pound product of Albany High School in Albany, La. is that he has had plenty of time to get back to his old self. He appeared in four games but took a redshirt in 2018, and last year, he emerged as a solid reserve defensive back, appearing in nine games while helping to give Shamburger a breather. Entering this year, UT is going to need him again.

There is no clear No. 3 nickel given another injury, which we’ll address, and Labruzza has proven his vulnerabilities. As a result, an injury to him could be devastating, and that’s why we have him on the list of guys to worry about. Even with Pruitt’s recruiting to build up depth at this position, veterans like Labruzza can provide a lot of value. Another injury to him could be devastating.

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