When Jakobe Thomas initially entered the transfer portal, there was a thought that he was just holding out for more money and would be back. After all, that’s what Mike Matthews and Rickey Gibson III have done this offseason, and Tennessee Football defensive back Boo Carter hinted Thomas would indeed return.
As a result, when the news came out Wednesday that he was transferring to the Miami Hurricanes, it was a bit of a shock and also a blow for UT. All of a sudden, despite adding Colorado Buffaloes transfer cornerback Colton Hood earlier in the week, their secondary is once again in trouble.
Cornerback was the Vols’ strength last year, and it masked the fact that they were below average at safety. That was largely due to Jourdan Thomas being out for the year. Christian Harrison and Andre Turrentine just don’t have the necessary athleticism to be elite in the SEC.
Thomas is back, and Harrison has entered the portal, but both Thomases were needed to make sure the safety positions were up to snuff. Now, with just Jourdan Thomas, who may not be 100 percent immediately, Turrentine has to start at the other spot again. Edrees Farooq also has to step in with limited experience.
This means that once again, the Tennessee Football cornerbacks have to mask safety deficiencies. There’s just one problem: Jermod McCoy, their All-American, will be coming off an ACL injury in January when the season begins in September. He won’t be 100 percent either.
See the problem?
Jakobe Thomas transferring means the Vols once again have to mask deficiencies at safety, but they won’t be at full strength to do that. Hood was a solid pickup for the Vols, but he and Gibson starting together can’t do what either of them starting opposite McCoy could do for the safeties.
Taking all this into account, the Vols have one option: They need to add another safety. It’s not impossible. Thomas himself came from the MTSU Blue Raiders last year. Why not look at the lower level again, scout somebody, and get him to transfer to Tennessee Football on the cheap?
There are lots of players at defensive back in the portal right now, and one of them is bound to be able to fill the void at safety as adequately as Thomas did. Tim Banks and Willie Martinez can coach them up in time. In reality, they will just be needed to help the Vols get through September. McCoy should be good by October.
At the moment, though, the Tennessee Football secondary is in trouble. Jakobe Thomas leaving, Jourdan Thomas needing time to get to 100 percent and McCoy coming off an ACL tear could have this unit limited in September, and they do have to play the Syracuse Orange and Georgia Bulldogs that month. Josh Heupel has to do something, or things could go south quickly.
