2. Baylen Buchanan, DB
The third-lowest rated player in Tennessee’s 2016 signing class is defensive back Baylen Buchanan. But if his highlight film is any indication, Buchanan has the potential to outplay his rating in a big way while at Tennessee.
Buchanan shows great pursuit and awareness while in the secondary, and he also displays a knack for knowing where the ball carrier is in run defense as well. There’s several times on his film that Buchanan meets a running back right around the line of scrimmage and stops him for minimal gain.
And when teams like Oklahoma, Ohio State, and Georgia were alongside Tennessee on his offer list, you know Buchanan is better than what his rating says.
Although not the biggest cornerback on the roster, Buchanan is very athletic and quick and has a similar build to Tennessee’s own Cam Sutton. And don’t forget, Sutton was also a three-star prospect in high school.
Projecting Buchanan as a Cam Sutton-like talent is extremely premature, but if his film is any indication of his skill level, Buchanan is better than just a middle-level three-star rating.
