As one of the most sought-after prospects from Tennessee in 2021, Turrentine attended Ensworth High School in Nashville, Tennessee. Originally, Turrentine chose to play college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes over Alabama, LSU, and Tennessee, but had a change of heart and entered the transfer portal. After a week of deliberation, Turrentine announced his decision to head home and join the Tennessee Volunteers.
The coaching change in Knoxville surely helped the Vols land Turrentine, who was recruited by former Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt but will now play for UT coach Josh Heupel.
Turrentine at Ohio State
Turrentine played a limited role for the Buckeyes as a redshirt freshman, appearing in 4 games in the 2021 season. While he made an appearance on defense against Maryland, he played a limited role against Akron, Michigan State, and Utah. The presence of fifth-year senior Josh Proctor and redshirt sophomore Kourt Williams would likely ensure that Turrentine wouldn’t get much playing time at Ohio State this season.
In fact, three other defensive backs also departed Columbus for other opportunities. Tennessee was a natural choice for Turrentine considering the Vols need help in the secondary after finishing last in the SEC in pass defense last season.
What Tennessee Needs
Defending the pass was just part of the issue with Tennessee’s defense last season. The Vols ranked dead last in the SEC in scoring defense and 11th in the SEC in total defense last season. Hopefully for Tennessee, the addition of Turrentine to the roster will help the Vols find their identity on defense. With playmakers like quarterback Hendon Hooker and receiver Cedric Tillman highlighting an explosive offense, the Vols could become a problem for many teams in the SEC East.
However, if Tennessee stands a chance to surprise any teams this season, they’ll need some big-time plays from transfers like Turrentine. That’s why he’s so important to the Vols.
No. 7: Dee Williams
