Cornerback
CB1: Baylen Buchanan, Marquill Osborne
CB2: Alontae Taylor, Kenneth George Jr./Bryce Thompson
Nickel (Star): Shawn Shamburger, Bryce Thompson
True freshman Alontae Taylor has all but solidified a starting spot at cornerback this fall. He’ll likely join junior corner Baylen Buchanan as UT’s two starting outside corners when they take on West Virginia in Week 1, and Shawn Shamburger looks to be the main player at the “star” nickel position.
Beyond that, the depth chart gets a little murky. But there are some guys who figure to provide support as the season goes along.
True freshman Bryce Thompson has received a lot of attention this fall, and he has the type of great burst and fluid hips coaches really value at corner. He may not be tall enough to consistently play at outside corner, which is why I’ve also put him in the two-deep at star. He’ll likely see the field somehow, some way.
Marquill Osborne looks like he’ll be one of the next in line at the outside corner spots, and Kenneth George Jr. has come along well this fall. Those two are looking like the most likely options behind Buchanan and Taylor right now.
