Tennessee football’s 15 safest starting spots on 2022 roster in fall camp
Jaylen McCollough. 3. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Senior. 839. Strong safety
6’0″ 205 pounds
Similar to Trevon Flowers, Jaylen McCollough is a two and a half year starter for Tennessee football at safety. Ironically, McCollough came in for Flowers after his season-ending broken leg injury on an interception in 2019 and filled in for him the rest of the year at free safety. Strong Safety Nigel Warrior then graduated, and McCollough moved over there in 2020 to start alongside Flowers.
Last year, McCollough led the team in interceptions with three. He also had five pass deflections and a forced fumble to go along with three and a half tackles for a loss, a sack and 49 overall tackles, 35 of which were solo. Now, he did have some issues, particularly with containment when the quarterback stayed in the pocket.
Still, that wouldn’t be enough for him to lose his job this year, and neither would transfers Andre Turrentine and Wesley Walker, who are both seeing action at safety. McCollough’s experience at the position is too much, so he, like Flowers, is penciled in as a starter heading into this year.
In fact, unlike Flowers, there is no question as to what position McCollough would occupy. He will be the strong safety no matter what, and that’s why he’s higher on the list. Both, though, are sure bets given their experience in a secondary that needs just that.