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Tennessee football’s five 2022 signees most likely to play early

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee mascot Smokey on the sidelines during the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Bowling Green Falcons in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, September 2, 2021.Ut Bowling Green
Tennessee mascot Smokey on the sidelines during the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Bowling Green Falcons in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, September 2, 2021.Ut Bowling Green /
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Sep 1, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Tennessee Volunteers helmet is seen pregame before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Tennessee Volunteers helmet is seen pregame before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Defensive back. Forsyth, Ga.. 4. 839. Desmond Williams (JuCo). player

Mary Persons High School; East Central C.C. (Decatur, Miss.)

It’s pretty clear Tennessee football desperately needs help in the secondary after what we all saw in the Music City Bowl. Alontae Taylor opting out left the Vols in serious trouble at cornerback and creates a genuine concern there for 2022. The departure of nickel Theo Jackson makes it worse.

Kamal Hadden and Brandon Turnage have shown enough where they’ll likely replace those two guys. However, questions of depth have risen, and neither has proven to be able to start a full season. Also, given the way he played against the Purdue Boilermakers, Warren Burrell’s starting job could be in jeopardy too.

All this suggests that a commitment in the secondary has a great chance to start if he plays cornerback. The Vols have three defensive backs committed, and two play cornerback. Unfortunately for them, none have a four-star rating on any service. However, Desmond Williams, despite being a three-star across the board, is the one most likely to make an early impact.

Williams is a junior college transfer, meaning Heupel likely brought him in so he could start in Tim Banks’ system immediately. Standing at 5’11” and weighing in the range of 185 to 190 pounds, the product of Georgia’s Monroe County who went to community college in Mississippi’s Newton County will get an early look from Willie Martinez. Being an early enrollee helps him too.

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