Tennessee’s wide receiver core continues its reputation for challenging the secondary on every play
Knoxville, Tenn. – A few questions with Tennessee’s defense remained unanswered or at least not crystal clear. Such as the secondary, it’s a young group with limited starting experience.
Despite those two things, there’s a lot of depth in that unit and across the board, which will help bolster the downside too maybe not having a clear, defined starter in each position.
However, the defense has continued to grow due to its preparation, film study, reps, and time in the weight room.
Defensive Coordinator, Tim Banks believes with the growth they’ve made and the depth they have in those areas they could be stout in pass defense.
“I think we’re really good. I tell guys all the time it starts with the front, it starts with the back end, you know those guys work hand in hand. I think as long as we’re able to do our job in the back end and do our job in the front, I think we have the chance to be really good back there,” said Banks.
We also heard from a of couple corners, who inadvertently continued to bolster the stock in Tennessee’s wide receiver room.
Jalen McMurray, who transferred in this season after three seasons at Temple. During his Redshirt Sophomore year, he tallied 39 tackles, including 24 solo, 1.5 tackles for loss, and four pass breakups.
McMurray said going up against the wide receivers who he calls one of the best groups in the nation, he had to learn quickly to adjust to the speed and the talent stacked in that room.
“You get pushed, I don’t know how to explain it, said McMurray. “They force you… you can’t take a play off. You can’t … no not with us. I feel like whoever’s in you got to be on your P’s and Q’s. You got to lock into your keys.”
Back behind center waiting to deliver the ball to those receivers is, of course, Nico Iamaleava. Despite entering his first season as the full-time starter preparing for his second all-time start, his composure would indicate otherwise.
“Talking about Nico, he just has such a strong command of the offense. He can throw it with the best of them. If I’m being honest, his sheer size, I forget how big he is until I get up on him. You know, when we tucks that ball and starts to run, that’s a problem for anybody or defense trying to corral that guy,” said Banks”