Tennessee football can’t afford to lose these 10 players in 2021

6’0″ 193 pounds; Hometown: Manchester, Tenn.

When you have the issues we talked about with Tennessee football in the secondary, the last thing you want is your best player leaving. That’s what happened, though, when the Vols lost No. 1 cornerback Bryce Thompson to the NFL.

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Now, Alontae Taylor, who was a four-star athlete along with Thompson back in 2018, has to step into that No. 1 cornerback role. The graduate of Coffee County Central High School appeared to take a step back last year, appearing in eight games and just starting five, as he battled a hamstring injury. However, when healthy, he’s too crucial to ignore.

Taylor has appeared in 33 games with 19 starts over the past three years. He has two interceptions, a defensive touchdown, nine pass deflections, two forced fumbles, four tackles for a loss, half a sack and 102 tackles, 74 of which were solo, for his career. He’s an elite producer who has proven more at cornerback than anybody else on the roster.

Sure, Kenneth George Jr. is a veteran, and Warren Burrell has started at times over the past two years at times with promise. Add in Brandon Turnage and Kamal Hadden, and there’s more depth. Taylor, however, is the one proven talent at a position that struggled last year. That’s what puts him up here.