Jeremy Pruitt, Alontae Taylor could usher in new cornerback era for Tennessee Vols

John Adams | Knoxville

Tennessee cornerback Jonathan Wade made second-team All-SEC in 2006. That’s more significant now than it was then.

Wade was just another in a long Tennessee line of competent cornerbacks. From 2001 through 2006, UT always had a future pro at cornerback. In 2001, Tennessee’s best team since its 1998 national champions, the Vols had two future NFL players at the position – Jabari Greer and Julian Battle.

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That trend has long since run its course. Wade is the last UT cornerback to make first- or second-team all-conference.

The decline in UT’s cornerback play coincides with the program’s overall drop-off during the past 10 years. So, it’s fitting that new coach Jeremy Pruitt is a former defensive back and a former defensive backfield coach.

He knows how vital cornerback play is to the type defense he ran as a coordinator at Alabama, Georgia and Florida State. That’s why Alontae Taylor’s performance in preseason practice has been encouraging for Tennessee's defense..

The four-star recruit from Winchester put himself in the running for a starting cornerback spot right away. So has fellow freshman Bryce Thompson, another four-star recruit. They're bracketed as starters at one cornerback on UT's preseason depth chart.

If you don’t think Tennessee needs immediate help at the position, review the video of last November’s losses to Missouri and Vanderbilt.

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Tennessee’s season opener against West Virginia underscores the importance of cornerback play. The Mountaineers should have one of the best passing games in the country.

Quarterback Will Grier and wide receiver David Sills are both preseason first-team All-Americans. In addition to Sills, Gary Jennings (97 catches last season) and Marcus Simms (an 18.9-yard average on 35 receptions) also are proven receivers.

West Virginia isn’t the only team that will pose problems for UT’s cornerbacks.

Alabama receivers, including freshman Jaylen Waddle, provided many of the highlights during preseason practice. Florida upgraded its receiving corps by adding transfers Van Jefferson from Ole Miss and Trevon Grimes from Ohio State. Georgia, Auburn, South Carolina and Missouri all have an above-average group of receivers.

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Eventually, Tennessee might have the cornerbacks to match up with outstanding receivers. But that will take time.

Tennessee’s 2019 recruiting class, which ranks 10th in 247Sports composite team rankings, has four defensive backs (and two cornerbacks) among its 20 commitments.

Pruitt shouldn’t have a problem recognizing talent at the position. He saw plenty of it at Alabama as an assistant to Nick Saban, who played defensive back in college and later coached the position himself.

In 2010, Pruitt’s first season as Alabama’s defensive backs coach, he had three cornerbacks who ended up playing in the NFL. Dee Milliner and Dre Kirkpatrick both were first-round draft picks. DeQuan Menzie was a fifth-round pick.

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Alabama rarely has been lacking at the position under Saban, who trusts his cornerbacks to cover one-on-one. Since 2008, nine Alabama cornerbacks have been drafted into the NFL.

The Tide’s next standout cornerback could be freshman Patrick Surtain. And perhaps, Taylor will excel at that position for Tennessee.

More importantly, maybe Pruitt will excel in recruiting to that position.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.