Tennessee lost four contributors at the cornerback position from the 2017 team. That spot immediately became Jeremy Pruitt’s biggest need the second he took the Vols’ job. After missing on a couple of high-profile defensive backs late, Pruitt was able to pull in four-star athlete Bryce Thompson in the spring, signing him to play cornerback. He then flipped Alontae Taylor from receiver to corner, adding two big time athletes to the mix in the defensive backfield.
Those two guys were the best in camp, according to Pruitt. It was a bold call to trot both guys out as starters against West Virginia’s All-American quarterback Will Grier, but then again — Pruitt didn’t have much of a choice.