1. DB Rashaan Gaulden
In his freshman year, Gaulden appeared in 11 games, making seven tackles. Five of those tackles came on special teams. Last season Gaulden suffered a foot injury in training camp and underwent surgery in late August, missing the 2015 season completely.
Gaulden was the missing piece in a Tennessee defense that struggled to finish games early in the season. At nickel, Gaulden is a hard-hitter who will never shy away from contact. The redshirt sophomore will provide quickness and strength to Tennessee’s defense, specifically against the run. Defensive coordinator Bob Shoop will look to use Gaulden close to the box, working as a rover against spread offenses. Look for him to make an impact in opposing backfields, blitzing off the edge and creating problems for opposing quarterbacks.
