Tennessee football: Kenneth George Jr. in perfect scheme signing with Titans

This is the biggest surprise of the post-NFL Draft coverage surrounding former Tennessee football players. More than two weeks after the draft itself, defensive back Kenneth George Jr. landed a deal with the Tennessee Titans, according to UTSports.

Of the nine UT players looking to get drafted, George saw the least amount of action for the Vols this past year. However, that didn’t stop him from becoming the third defensive back from Rocky Top to sign with a team and second with the Titans specifically.

So what is the reason for this? How could a guy who only had one tackle for a loss and five tackles, four of which were solo, this past year while not even playing 100 snaps land a deal? Well, in truth, it all comes down to scheme.

George was a better fit for Jeremy Pruitt’s 3-4 than the nickel-heavy 4-3 that Tim Banks runs. Titans defensive coordinator Shane Bowen became more committed to that role when he took the job this past year, as he runs a nickel-heavy 3-4 similar to what Pruitt and Derrick Ansley ran.

Before last year, George was a regular utility starter, funny enough similar to fellow former Vol defensive back turned new Titan Theo Jackson. That earned George starts at cornerback when players like Aontae Taylor were hurt.

In 2019 and 2020 with Tennessee football, George combined for nine pass deflections, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and 44 tackles, 31 of which were solo. Standing at 6’0″ 194 pounds, he did more than enough to prove he could be effective.

Tryouts are what earned George the signing with the Titans, and he apparently more than proved himself. When you break everything else down, it has to be the scheme. He played significantly for two years in a 3-4, saw action reduced in a 4-3 and is now back in a 3-4.

Perhaps one of the reasons for this being the case is the fact that George was used a bit at nickel last year. Cornerback is his true position, and that’s where he needs to remain. Another explanation, to be fair, is the team was healthier last year at cornerback.

Still, it wouldn’t have been enough to reduce his minutes that significantly. Either way, this is great news for George, who has the chance to prove himself like so many undrafted defensive backs from Rocky Top have done in recent years.

A junior college transfer to Tennessee football in 2018 out of Trinity Valley Community College, George hails from Louisiana originally. He graduated from Acadiana in Lafayette, La., and was a six-year college player. In 2018, an injury limited him, but he emerged once fully healthy.