Improving the defensive secondary has been a primary concern for Tennessee during the last few seasons, and having seven players transfer out and three more declare for the NFL draft makes that an even taller task.
To help fill the void, the Vols have welcomed three transfers and some rookies to bolster a unit with two returning juniors at safety.
“We have an athletic group,” Tennessee secondary coach Willie Martinez says. “The team is really fast, they’re young, they’re inexperienced, but they have a great attitude about the effort part, the preparation. We just have to continue to grow and mature.”
Fans can get a first glimpse at the entire team during the Tennessee Orange & White Game Saturday at 1 p.m. EDT (SEC Network+). Because of construction at Neyland Stadium, the capacity will be limited to approximately 10,000 fans.
Vol Village will open at 11 a.m. and feature the return of the Vol Village Music Festival with live bands onstage in Lot 9 before kickoff and following the spring game, leading up to the start of Tennessee’s baseball game against LSU at 5:30 p.m. in Lindsey Nelson Stadium. No ticket is required for Vol Village. Big screens will be stationed at Lot 9 and the amphitheater outside Gate 21 for fans to watch the Orange & White Game live.
Newcomers shine
Tennessee brought in three significant transfers in the secondary, including Jermod McCoy (Oregon State) and Jalen McMurray (Temple) at cornerback and Jakobe Thomas (Middle Tennessee) at safety. Martinez says their college experience has been beneficial to them learning a new system and being thrust into action early.
“You look at those three players and it’s across the board, across America,” Martinez says. “Not only did they get developed, but they also were producing too on their team. They had great experience. Obviously, there are different conferences, and they’re all coming from different ones.”
McMurray, a junior, appeared in 27 games across three seasons at Temple. He made 23 starts and logged 90 tackles with one interception and 12 pass breakups. The challenge of playing in a power conference helped bring McMurry to Tennessee, he says.
“Obviously, it’s in the SEC. In my opinion, it’s the best conference in the nation,” the Maryland native says. “Being able to compete against the best, not only during games but during practice, as well. I feel like that was a huge deciding factor. Being able to come here and really push myself, and being able to push the guys in my room and the receivers I go against in practice and games.”
Martinez says he has been impressed with how McMurray has performed throughout spring practices and in the film room.
“He’s been, out of the new guys, the most consistent player, meaning where he’s making production every day,” Martinez says. “You can see it. He’s got great instincts. He’s smart. He actually knows the plays before the plays are being run. It’s kind of like he has that knack about him, and he’s been the most consistent player each day.
“So it’s really great to see, because we needed that competition, which helps those young guys that are developing to see that we’ve brought some guys in here to compete for a starting job. And he’s doing a great job.”
Junior Jourdan Thomas struggled with injuries last season, but tried to view the experience as a positive to help him develop in other ways beyond getting reps on the field to become more well-rounded.
“I was really training to focus on the mentality of the game, the playbook, learning the scheme and defense. Just knowing the defense in-and-out and knowing the offensive plays,” Thomas says. “I feel like I’ve grown as a leader and as a player as well. I’ve been focusing on my leadership skills. Recently, I have been more vocal and helping the younger guys.”
Redshirt junior Andre Turrentine played in 10 games last season for the Vols and made two starts. He says the changeover in the secondary has given UT a bigger upside to impact games.
“The biggest thing I want to say is playmakers. The playmaking ability has gone up in the room,” he says. “It’s a highly competitive room right now with guys fighting for a spot.
“The playmaking ability has been tremendous. Guys making plays on the ball, guys just knowing what to do, knowing football within the call, knowing how to play the game within the game, this chess game we play.”
Microscope is on
The secondary was watched closely by UT coaches last week when the Vols held a scrimmage at Neyland Stadium. They know the ongoing priority remains making the secondary into a strength of the defense rather than a weak link.
“We knew that we had to continue to add athleticism, length, playmaking ability on the secondary, and the guys that have come in here – that’s high school guys and transfer portal guys – you can see that as soon as you walk on the practice field with those guys,” UT head coach Josh Heupel says. “A lot of growth left for them within our scheme – little details, nuances, the communication – but really like where that group’s headed. They’ve made plays and continue to compete at a really high level.”