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Tennessee football: 10 Vols who should redshirt for 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver Ramel Keyton (80) celebrates Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman's (85) touchdown during a game between University of Tennessee and Chattanooga at Neyland Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019.Utvschattanooga0914 0625
Tennessee wide receiver Ramel Keyton (80) celebrates Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman's (85) touchdown during a game between University of Tennessee and Chattanooga at Neyland Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019.Utvschattanooga0914 0625 /
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Tennessee defensive back De’Shawn Rucker (28) celebrates a blocked punt during a football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021.Kns Tennessee Alabama Football Bp
Tennessee defensive back De’Shawn Rucker (28) celebrates a blocked punt during a football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021.Kns Tennessee Alabama Football Bp /

Scouting Report. player. 839. Pick Analysis. Defensive back. Sophomore. De'Shawn Rucker. 3

Transfers and returning talent will push De’Shawn Rucker down Tennessee football’s cornerback depth chart. Redshirting will give him a fair shot in 2023.

De’Shawn Rucker and Christian Charles were the rising stars in Tennessee football’s secondary last year, and both blocked a punt. Rucker brings a lot of hype as an athlete out of Florida’s Leon County. Since Charles plays safety and Rucker plays cornerback, Rucker should have the advantage given the departures of Alontae Taylor and Theo Jackson.

However, the 6’0″ 190-pound graduate of Godby High School in Tallahassee, Fla., had to miss spring ball due to an injury. Meanwhile, Charles was able to get looks at cornerback, and Tamarion McDonald was solid at safety. That gives them both chances to play despite Christian Harrison and Jourdan Thomas arriving to bring competition in the summer.

As a result, Rucker has even more competition than before and also more youth. Add in his lack of chance to really step up in the spring, and it’s likely he’s buried in the depth chart at a position that is still deep given all the incoming talent from the recruiting trail and the transfer portal.

If Rucker redshirts for a year, he’ll have a much better opening next year to start, as it’s likely a couple of the cornerbacks are gone by then. His potential is through the roof and too great to be wasted, and these extra years of eligibility by other guys hurt guys like him, so he needs a redshirt to even the playing field.

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