Tennessee football: Top five needs for 2023 recruiting class
1. Safety
Related Story. Ranking position groups in Vols' 2022 class with grades. light
Jaylen McCollough led Tennessee football in interceptions last year with three. Trevon Flowers was a true center fielder at free safety. Both players deciding to return to the Vols was a big deal. However, McCollough will be a senior in 2022, and Flowers will be out of eligibility after that year.
As a result, both could be gone next year, and one certainly could be gone. For McCollough, it depends on how well he performs. Taking all this into account, Rocky Top needs immediate help at safety. They addressed their cornerback issue, which arose with the departures of Alontae Taylor and Theo Jackson.
Desmond Williams is a junior college commitment who could play immediately, and Christian Harrison has great football instincts despite his low rating. Combine that with the return of Kamal Hadden and Brandon Turnage, both of whom have proven they are ready to start, and Warren Burrell and Doneiko Slaughter, and the Vols are set with options there.
At safety, though, Christian Charles and Tamarion McDonald are the guys backing up McCollough and Flowers. Even if Cheyenne Labruzza comes back and emerges there, this year would be his last year of eligibility. Simply put, UT needs more competition at safety.
Next. Vols' 2022 recruiting class by the numbers. dark
Jourdan Thomas was a pickup in 2022 at the position, but he’s a long-term project. Tennessee football needs at least two more commitments here to be comfortable for 2023 and beyond. Right now, they do have one in Jack Luttrell, the Vols’ first commitment for 2023. If he stays and one more player commits, this will be another issue resolved.