All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football’s 10 underclassmen most likely to leave early for 2023 NFL Draft

By Caleb Calhoun

Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) runs the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) runs the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 10
Next
Tennessee defensive back Brandon Turnage (29) after a NCAA football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football Bp
Tennessee defensive back Brandon Turnage (29) after a NCAA football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football Bp /

Pick Analysis. Defensive back. Brandon Turnage. player. 839. Scouting Report. Redshirt junior. 5

6’1″ 186 pounds

Similar to Kamal Hadden, Brandon Turnage transferred from an Alabama school to Tennessee football last year and immediately worked his way into being a second-teamer. Also, like Hadden, he got his chance to start a game when the senior he was backing up was out. In his case, that start was during the regular season.

Turnage filled in for Theo Jackson against the South Carolina Gamecocks, and all the Mississippi kid did was earn SEC Defensive Player of the Week. The graduate of Lafayette High School in Oxford, Miss., finished 2021 with two tackles for a loss and 22 total tackles, 10 of which were solo.

That game showed what Turnage could be, and with Jackson gone, he’s destined to step in and thrive. Of course, like Hadden, Turnage has competition, but his experience actually playing nickel in Tim Banks’ nickel-heavy 4-3 defense combined with his production while playing it gives him a huge advantage, even if he missed spring ball.

Ohio State Buckeyes transfer Andre Turrentine, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets transfer Wesley Walker and junior college transfer Desmond Williams will all give Turnage some competition, but that’ll also be competition for Hadden and Burrell. Turnage should be safe, meaning he could emerge as an NFL star next year for Tennessee football.

Home/Vols Football