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Tennessee football: Top 15 dark-horse Vols for 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee defensive back Tamarion McDonald (12) warming up before the start of the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Bowling Green Falcons in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, September 2, 2021.Ut Bowling Green
Tennessee defensive back Tamarion McDonald (12) warming up before the start of the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Bowling Green Falcons in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, September 2, 2021.Ut Bowling Green /
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Tennessee defensive back De’Shawn Rucker (28) warming up before the start of the NCAA college football game between the Tennesse Volunteers and Vanderbilt Commodores in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 27, 2021.Kns Tennessee Vanderbilt Football
Tennessee defensive back De’Shawn Rucker (28) warming up before the start of the NCAA college football game between the Tennesse Volunteers and Vanderbilt Commodores in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 27, 2021.Kns Tennessee Vanderbilt Football /

Pick Analysis. Sophomore. 11. player. Scouting Report. Defensive back. De'Shawn Rucker. 839

6’0″ 190 pounds

Expectations when Alontae Taylor opted out of the Music City Bowl last year were that Warren Burrell would move into the No. 1 cornerback spot, Kamal Hadden would take the No. 2 spot, and that would be a preview of the 2022 season. However, Tennessee football’s atrocious pass defense against the Purdue Boilermakers may have changed those plans.

It appears as if the Vols are in search of a cornerback who can guard the opposing team’s best receiver. That gives De’Shawn Rucker a chance. Now, Rucker did miss spring ball due to injury, which held him back, but in the limited action he saw last year, he was able to provide a ton of promise to the Vols.

Rucker blocked a punt against the Alabama Crimson Tide, demonstrating his speed. In addition to the blocked punt, he had five tackles. Entering this year, Tim Banks and Willie Martinez will give him a look like everybody else to see if he can guard a team’s top receiver.

Burrell and Hadden have both proven themselves to be fine guarding the No. 2 wideout, so the question is the other spot, and it’ll be the No. 1 cornerback or nothing for Rucker unless somebody gets hurt. Still, somebody could get hurt, so there are multiple ways for him to get into the lineup.

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