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Tennessee football: 2023 DB class stacked at safety during dead period

By Caleb Calhoun

The Volunteer waves a Tennessee flag during the Vol Walk before an SEC football game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021.Kns Tennessee Ole Miss Football
The Volunteer waves a Tennessee flag during the Vol Walk before an SEC football game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021.Kns Tennessee Ole Miss Football /
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Sep 22, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; Checkerboard end zone at Neyland Stadium before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; Checkerboard end zone at Neyland Stadium before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /

Final take

Related Story. Evaluating Vols' 2023 class at dead period: LB. light

Despite being so thin at safety right now going into 2024 with players on the roster, Tennessee football addressed that issue with its three commitments at the position. As a result, the Vols are fine and should easily be able to go three-deep when that year arrives, and they’ll have two more options in Doneiko Slaughter and Christian Charles.

Now, at cornerback, there are more questions. They should be able to go three-deep there as well, particularly with Cristian Conyer committed, which gives them one extra option at both safety and cornerback when you factor in the versatility of Slaughter and Charles.

However, Tim Banks’ reliance on the nickel spot means they need one more cornerback committed for this class, especially since Conyer isn’t a safe bet to play cornerback to begin with. The Vols need a player who would be locked in at that position, and another safety wouldn’t hurt.

Prediction

Rocky Top’s best chance at adding a cornerback in this class is Rickey Gibson. They have appeared to be in the lead for the Alabama prospect for a while, and he would specifically be a cornerback. As a result, Josh Heupel and Tim Banks will still recruit him hard, and he’ll commit.

Next. Projecting Vols' two-deep depth chart for 2022. dark

After that, though, Tennessee football isn’t going to have any more pickups in the secondary this year. That’s not a big deal given what they did on the transfer circuit and what they have already done on the trail, but it will leave a lot of unproven talent to choose from in the near future.

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