Vols shuffle freshmen into new positions
Three players have started at nickelback for Tennessee this season in a failed attempt to find a high producer.
The Vols (2-3) prepared a fourth option, freshman Key Lawrence, during the open week, and Lawrence might get an opportunity to play as the nickelback against Arkansas (2-3) on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network).
Lawrence, the top-rated signee in Tennessee’s 2020 recruiting class, had been a backup cornerback. He has appeared in every game this season. He also spent some time at safety during the preseason. His path to more extended playing time at cornerback is blocked by the presence of veterans Bryce Thompson, Alontae Taylor and Kenneth George Jr.
Tennessee needs better performance at nickelback, where Shawn Shamburger, Theo Jackson and Doneiko Slaughter have all started.
The nickelback – or the Star position, as coach Jeremy Pruitt calls it – is primarily assigned to a slot receiver. Containing slot receivers on routes over the middle of the field has been a seasonlong struggle for the Vols.
“In the games that he’s played in, he’s done pretty well, so we looked at him at Star, just to get more production out of that position,” Pruitt said of Lawrence. “So, he’ll possibly get an opportunity on Saturday.”
Pruitt is shifting other freshmen, too, in an effort to get them more playing time.
Morven Joseph spent the first half of the season as an outside linebacker, but he’s also now practicing at inside linebacker, a position thin on depth.
Bryson Eason, who opened the season as a reserve inside linebacker, is practicing at outside linebacker.
“We moved some guys around to possibly create opportunities for guys that have worked hard in practice,” Pruitt said.
Len’neth Whitehead to have surgery
Freshman running back Len’neth Whitehead will not play this season.
Whitehead had been progressing toward making his debut after he had foot surgery last October as a high school senior. But he suffered a shoulder injury in practice last week, which will require surgery. Pruitt expects to have Whitehead back for spring practice.
Whitehead was a four-star prospect coming out of Athens Academy in Georgia. A two-way standout in high school, he also was highly regarded as a linebacker.
Tennessee has used just three running backs all season – Eric Gray, Ty Chandler and Jabari Small.
Freshman Dee Beckwith is emerging as another option. He was slowed during the preseason because of quarantine and later an ankle injury, but he’s now healthy.
“We need more depth at running back,” Pruitt said. “We’ve really played three guys for the year and have been very fortunate that those guys have stayed healthy.”
The latest on Vols quarterbacks
Pruitt offered no indication that the open week resulted in a change in the quarterback depth chart.
Jarrett Guarantano has started every game this season, and Brain Maurer, Harrison Bailey and J.T. Shrout all have appeared as reserves.
Maurer was the second-string quarterback when Tennessee last played, on Oct. 24 against Alabama.