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Tennessee football: Ranking position groups in Vols 2021 recruiting class with grades

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 29: A general view of Neyland Stadium during the South Carolina Gamecocks game against the Tennessee Volunteers on October 29, 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 29: A general view of Neyland Stadium during the South Carolina Gamecocks game against the Tennessee Volunteers on October 29, 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

5. Defensive back: C+

Number of signees: 2 (3 if Kaemen Marley plays defensive back)

Technically, only one signee is listed as a defensive back. De’Shawn Rucker named a safety across all three services, is a three-star on Rivals and 247Sports but a four-star on ESPN. He’s a solid pickup for Tennessee football. Athlete Christian Charles, a three-star across the board, committed to UT to play defensive back, so it’s almost certain he’ll be in the secondary as well.

However, the Vols lost Key Lawrence, a rising star, to the Oklahoma Sooners in the transfer portal. Bryce Thompson, their best defensive back the past three years, decided to leave early for the NFL Draft. Shawn Shamburger also almost transferred but returned, and Baylen Buchanan transferred to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs but hasn’t played the past two years.

Lawrence and Thompson were the two key losses. Rucker and Charles alone wouldn’t offset that. In fact, we would have this as a C- or maybe even a D if they were the only ones. However, one unanimous four-star changes everything.

Kaemen Marley also committed to the Vols as an athlete. There’s a very good chance he plays defensive back as well, though. The possibility gives this grade a C+, and if he is certain to play defensive back, this grade moves up to a B.

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