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Tennessee football: Bryce Thompson grabs 247Sports attention

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 12: Bryce Thompson #20 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts during a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 12: Bryce Thompson #20 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts during a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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The Tennessee football Volunteers cornerback is becoming a standout player.

As he enters his junior season, Tennessee football rising junior cornerback Bryce Thompson has a ton of hype surrounding him. He is looking to get back into full rhythm and build on the initial splash he made.

Many analysts are certainly expecting him to do just that. In an article by Charles Power, 247Sports listed Thompson as one of the 10 SEC players grabbing the outlet’s attention heading into the 2020 season.

Potentially be Tennessee football’s best player, this South Carolina native was the nation’s top-rated true freshman cornerback in 2018 by Pro Football Focus and then didn’t allow a touchdown in coverage last year. Here is a bit of what was written about him in 247Sports.

"The 5-foot-11,185-pounder is a hyper-aggressive corner with high-level ball skills in addition to a physical edge as a tackler and run defender. He looks to be the strength of Tennessee’s defense and one of the league’s top cornerbacks heading into the season."

Thompson was a freshman All-American in 2018 with three interceptions, and while he matched that total in 2019, it was all in one game against the UAB Blazers, and his overall production appeared to dip a bit. That’s because he missed the beginning of the season due to a suspension and never fully got into a rhythm.

That didn’t stop him from shutting down his side of the field, though. He was still elite, and playing alongside nickel Shawn Shamburger, who also didn’t allow a touchdown in coverage last year, is a big reason for the hype behind UT’s secondary.

Now, there are some concerns. Nigel Warrior was a breakout star for the Vols at safety last year, allowing for Thompson and Shamburger to be more aggressive. He is now gone, and there is a bit of competition at safety.

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At the same time, though, Thompson, a product of Dutch Fork High School in Irmo, S.C., showed his promise as a freshman, before Warrior emerged as an elite player. As a result, he has definitely proven himself to this point, and he and Shamburger may make for the best tandem on Tennessee football this year.

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