“Last week, the Vols lost their expected starter, Jourdan Thomas, to a season-ending injury, but they now have enough depth to manage it.”
The Tennessee Volunteers suffered a setback in their secondary last week when defensive back Jourdan Thomas sustained a season-ending knee injury. In previous years, this would have been a major blow to an already thin and underwhelming group. However, things are different this year.
Thomas was expected to start at the star position, which is essentially the nickel cornerback in Tim Banks’ defense. Last season, Tamarion McDonald held this role but was sidelined late in the season, leading to walk-on Will Brooks stepping in. Anyone who watched the Georgia game would agree that Brooks didn’t have the athleticism necessary to be a reliable starter in the SEC.
This season, Thomas’s role will be filled by either redshirt sophomore Christian Harrison or true freshman Boo Carter, both of whom have earned high praise during training camp. This situation highlights the much-improved depth in the secondary, but it’s part of a broader improvement across the team. Although injuries are inevitable this season, the Volunteers are better equipped to manage them than ever before.
Depth is a strength for the Vols
Last season, injuries at key positions significantly impacted the Vols’ performance. Cooper Mays missed the first month, Bru McCoy was out for the season after the South Carolina game, Keenan Pili was sidelined in the season opener against Virginia, and by the Citrus Bowl, much of the secondary was made up of second- and third-string players.
The offensive line struggled without Mays, and Bru was the team’s only true difference-maker at receiver. After Pili’s injury, the Vols relied heavily on freshmen in the linebacking corps. Late in the season, Will Brooks was playing out of position in the secondary, which are not ideal circumstances for winning.
This season, the team has strengthened its depth in several position groups. The defensive line has 10-12 players capable of starting in the SEC, the receiver group has 6-7 players competing for playing time, the tight end room has three reliable options, and the linebackers have gained valuable experience with Pili’s return and last year’s young players. The secondary has also been bolstered through high school recruits and the transfer portal, despite losing all of last year’s starters.
While there are still concerns about depth on the offensive line, as well as in the quarterback and running back rooms, there is potential in the younger, less proven players. In the transfer portal era, it’s difficult for any team to have depth everywhere, so some questions are expected.
Tennessee will inevitably face more injuries this season, but the Vols are better prepared to handle them than in any previous year under Heupel. In football, it’s always about the next man up, and this year, the Vols are ready with more depth.
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