COLUMBIA, S.C.– Tennessee will be without one starter on defense for Saturday nights season opener at South Carolina. He didnt enable a goal on more than 300 coverage snaps and had one of the most affordable challenger passer rankings when targeted last season, per Pro Football Focus. The 6-foot, 185-pounder from Roswell, Ga., was one of the most significant late risers in the recruiting rankings after an outstanding season senior. Middleton started 6 games in 2019 and finished with 33 tackles, three deals with for loss and one sack in his first season in the program after transferring in from junior college.
Tennessees training personnel is high on the potential of freshman Slaughter, the previous Arizona State commitment who signed with the Vols in December. The 6-foot, 185-pounder from Roswell, Ga., was one of the biggest late risers in the recruiting rankings after an excellent season senior. Massacre was ranked the No. 472 general player and No. 40 safety in the industry-generated 247Sports Composite for the 2020 season.
Somewhere else in warmups, the first-team defensive line was Matthew Butler, Aubrey Solomon and Elijah Simmons.
Freshman running back Tee Hodge did not make the journey as hes been limited in practice with a leg injury. The Vols took a trip just four running backs: Eric Gray, Ty Chandler, freshman Jabari Small and walk-on Fred Orr.
Tennessee currently had several players sidelined:
> > Defensive lineman Darel Middleton revealed via Twitter on Saturday afternoon that he didnt make the journey “due to health problems.” Middleton began 6 video games in 2019 and completed with 33 tackles, 3 takes on for loss and one sack in his first season in the program after moving in from junior college. The senior has missed out on some practice time throughout the preseason, however did practice today.
> > Fifth-year senior defensive back Baylen Buchanan (spinal column) and freshman defensive back Tamarion McDonald (shoulder) are out for the season, and Pruitt stated earlier today that beginning tight end Austin Pope (back) “most likely” would not play this season after beginning 11 games and standing out as a hard, physical run-blocker for Tennessees offense.
> > The Vols are brief a couple of freshman running backs with LenNeth Whitehead unclear for full-contact practices due to a significant foot injury he suffered during his senior season and Dee Beckwith harming his ankle in practice today.
> > Wide receiver Deangelo Gibbs has actually chosen out of the season.
COLUMBIA, S.C.– Tennessee will lack one starter on defense for Saturday nights season opener at South Carolina. Defensive back Shawn Shamburger, the senior who is the starter for the Vols at their important Star position, did not make the journey to Columbia and is not available to play, a program authorities validated to GoVols247. In his absence, Tennessee is shuffling its lineup in the secondary with Bryce Thompson set to start at security.
Thompson, a two-year starter at cornerback, was with the first-team defense at security along with Trevon Flowers during warmups. Elsewhere in the secondary, Kenneth George Jr. and Alontae Taylor were at cornerback with freshman Doneiko Slaughter filling into Shamburgers space at the Star position.
Shamburger stood out at the Star position in 2019, acquiring 47 takes on, 4.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, 2 pass breaks up and one interception. He didnt permit a touchdown on more than 300 protection snaps and had one of the most affordable challenger passer rankings when targeted last season, per Pro Football Focus. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder is one of the essential members of a veteran secondary for the Vols.
