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Tennessee football: Five takeaways from 2021 spring practice roster

By Caleb Calhoun

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) /
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Tennessee defensive back Shawn Shamburger (12) celebrates during a game between Tennessee and Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018. Tennessee defeated Auburn 30-24.Auburntennessee1013 1590
Tennessee defensive back Shawn Shamburger (12) celebrates during a game between Tennessee and Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018. Tennessee defeated Auburn 30-24.Auburntennessee1013 1590 /

1. Two defensive backs notably missing

We already expected players in the transfer portal who haven’t committed elsewhere to be missing from Tennessee football’s 2021 spring practice roster. Josh Heupel is likely preparing for his team to be without them anyway.

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As a result, Quavaris Crouch, J.J. Peterson and Henry To’o To’o all being left off the roster wasn’t shocking. However, two defensive backs missing was a much bigger deal. Shawn Shamburger and Deangelo Gibbs were both left off the roster, which leaves UT’s secondary thinner than it was even expected to be.

Shamburger, who was actually Rocky Top’s highest-graded player in 2019 as the starting nickel, entered the transfer portal earlier in the year but came back to UT. Given Tim Banks’ focus on the nickel in his 4-3 base defense, Shamburger seemed like somebody who could thrive in the new system. That seemed to play a role in his decision to stay on Rocky Top.

Gibbs, a transfer from the Georgia Bulldogs, took a redshirt in 2019 and then decided to focus on academics in 2020 while sitting out due to COVID. Him not being back this year, though, stands out, as the Vols could have used him at defensive back, even if he was set to play safety, the position that didn’t have any losses this past year.

Next. Top 10 2022 QBs still available for Vols to pursue. dark

With Bryce Thompson leaving early for the pros and all the issues at defensive back last year, Tennessee football needs all the help there it can get. Shamburger and Gibbs being off the spring practice roster is somewhat alarming, and that should concern UT fans.

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