Tennessee has to replace one of its most consistent and productive players from last season. They also have to replace a leader.
If you take a look at pure statistics, Alontae Taylor shouldn’t be that hard to replace, right? The former Tennessee standout cornerback had just two interceptions and six passes broken up last year. Surely, the Vols can find a way to produce those kinds of numbers. However, that’s selling Taylor short.
Taylor turned into one of the best cornerbacks in the SEC last season, meaning offenses shied away from throwing the ball in his direction. That’s partly why he was selected with the No. 49 pick in April’s NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. Forget about the stats. Taylor has frequently been lauded for the intangibles he brought to the Vols.
“He was a leader,” Tennessee defensive back Warren Burrell said about Taylor, . “He helped us get in the right direction. When guys were not paying attention to details, myself included, and when things were not as right as they should be, Alontae was one of those guys that got us back into position and back focused and on the right track. Now that’s my job.
“That’s something I try to do. I keep that in mind. I guess it’s more off-the-field things, more focus, more detail-oriented stuff that you have to take responsibility to make sure that other guys are doing this because it will eventually be their turn and (I’ll) pass it on.”
Burrell isn’t the only Vol that will be depended upon to replace Taylor, who started 31 games for Tennessee. Burrell started 12 games last season. He’s a known commodity.
Tennessee’s coaches don’t know quite as much about Christian Charles, who made one start for the Vols last season. However, so far, so good. Charles is a a strong candidate to play cornerback extensively this season after moving from safety during the offseason.
“Christian is the type of player that we want to continue to recruit,” Tennessee defensive backs coach Willie Martinez said. “He is very versatile and can play all the positions on the back end. That gives us some flexibility, and he has transitioned very well.
“He has obviously made progress from when that transition happened in the spring. He was very raw and non-developed at understanding how to play the corner position. He has done a nice job in the offseason and the summertime that has prepared him for camp. He looks like a different player and is much more aware of certain situations. It does happen a lot faster out there, and he has adjusted really well.”
Said Charles, “I pride myself on being versatile. So, I did whatever was needed out of me. I needed to play corner because we had some guys down in the spring, so I made the transition. It wasn’t really a huge deal to me. It was just something that I knew I had to do.”
The Vols will also ask much more out of Kamal Hadden, who transferred to Tennessee before the 2021 season. Hadden played in seven games last season, but was held out of spring practice with an unspecified injury.
“He’s a different person,” Martinez said. “He’s a different player. He’s really grown. I’ll start off with off the field, it’s academics, it’s in the strength and conditioning. He had a great summer. Obviously, he was coming off the injury. He’s been locked in the meetings preparing, so to speak. He does a good job when he’s not in there as far as keeping the energy going.
“He’s grown tremendously since he’s been here. He’s only been here just a little bit over 13 months and he’s coming off an injury that kind of set him back a little bit from developing. To come back from that and, obviously, where he’s at right now, he’s giving us a chance to build our depth in the backend.”
The building process continues during Tennessee’s scrimmage on Sunday. Martinez may not have a leader like Taylor at his disposal. However, he does have more depth.
Here is more from Martinez on Tennessee’s defensive backs:
On anyone who has stuck out to him during camp…
“The other new guys are Jourdan Thomas and Christian Harrison. Thomas has done a great job and is coming off a really good scrimmage where he showed what he can do. Those two guys, I cannot say enough good things about them. The small details are so important, and they did a great job. They both were not here until June, they had to learn it. They knew that they were behind reps on the guys that have been here since January. It is important to them, and they are still growing. We had a setback with Christian, but he will be back in the next couple of days. He’s really done a nice job early on in camp.”
On how Brandon Turnage missing time from football in the spring affected his development…
“With Brandon (Turnage), it’s really not so much the mental part. Brandon is a really smart player. He knows every position on the backend. You can line him up there, and if something happens, he will know what to do at strong safety, free safety, corner, star or dime. He understands the game and its importance. It’s good for him to get back on the field and get the reps he needs to continue to develop his techniques and fundamentals. It’s great to see him out there and do that again. He has great energy, and it’s nonstop. He’s coaching players when he’s on the sideline and when they come off the sideline. He’s got a smile on his face. It’s good in our room, because leadership is needed in every room and every phase of our program. He’s one of those guys that does it by setting the example.”
More from Tennessee’s players:
Sophomore DB Christian Charles
On how he has improved at corner over the summer and during fall camp…
“Something that I believe I have improved on and will continue to improve on is being consistent. That’s the biggest thing playing corner, because you can completely lock a guy down for two plays and then the third play you have one lapse of focus, and it is sixty yards over your head for a touchdown. Being consistent is something that I believe that I’ve improved on and will continue to improve on.”
On if he feels more pressure playing cornerback over safety…
“I wouldn’t say I feel any more responsibility, I just feel the responsibility that it takes every play. You can’t take more pride in one play than the next. You have to come in with that same kind of intensity and focus every play no matter what.”
Junior DB Brandon Turnage
On coming back from injury in the offseason…
“Really, the time sitting back really didn’t set me back any. We were still learning. We were still watching the guys go through the formations and sets and everything. This offseason it wasn’t really a struggle because I had my teammates. I had a couple of my other brothers that were in the same position as me. We all kind of just built off each other and build each other up throughout the process. Now, being that we did sit back, I feel like all of us kind of see the game a little bit different. All of us feel motivated. We take more advantage of our opportunity because we see how it is being down and not being able to get the reps.”
On learning from the experience he gained last year as a reserve…
“Really just paying attention to the other guys who are in front of me. Theo (Jackson), he was a really smart guy. Just sitting in meeting rooms with him, listening to the questions that he’s asking, watching the things that he’s doing at practice. All of that kind of helps, just having older guys that have a lot of experience and that have been through a lot of stuff. Either behind Warren (Burrell) and stuff like that, those guys are smart and if you just watch them, you can learn so much.”
On not playing much down the stretch last season…
“I’ve always been taught to be ready whenever my number is called. It really didn’t make any difference because I knew that I needed to play my role. Being that other guys were older, and they knew more honestly than me, they had more experience. I just step back, and I continue to be patient.”
