Tennessee football: 10 Vols who need a good spring practice in 2022
Scouting Report. 839. Pick Analysis. Defensive back. Junior. Doneiko Slaughter. 7. player
6’0″ 190 pounds
Although Tennessee football is set at safety, Doneiko Slaughter has an opportunity to take the nickel position. Also, this is his time to be able to prove he’s the adequate second string safety behind Jaylen McCollough and Trevon Flowers, as at least one and possibly both positions will be open for grabs next year.
Slaughter, once a four-star out of Georgia, is also enough of a hybrid defensive back that he could play cornerback as well in the future. Either way, he’s got a lot of guys to compete with, and he’s already a junior. At safety, Tamarion McDonald and Christian Charles are already backups. Meanwhile, Christian Harrison and Jourdan Thomas won’t arrive until the fall.
Then there is nickel, which would seem to be occupied by Brandon Turnage, who is out during spring ball. However, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets transfer Wesley Walker will be arriving later in the year too, and that will create for even more competition at the position.
Taking all this into account, the graduate of Roswell High School in Fulton County, Ga., has the opportunity to stand out as Theo Jackson’s replacement at nickel or a second-string guy at safety or cornerback. Given what’s coming, he’s got to take that opportunity, or his future is one that will be buried in the depth chart at UT.