ESPN names biggest 'lingering question' for Tennessee Vols after spring practice

ESPN recently named the biggest "lingering question" for each top 25 team after spring football and they went with an issue for the Tennessee Vols that's been a bit overblown this offseason.

ESPN suggested that Tennessee's revamped secondary is the biggest lingering question facing the Vols as we enter the summer months.

From ESPN : The Vols lost their top six defensive backs from a year ago, some who were multiyear starters, so there's not really a veteran presence on the back end. But a handful of defensive backs return who played meaningful snaps during the latter part of the 2023 season, including cornerbacks Rickey Gibson III and safeties Andre Turrentine and Jourdan Thomas, who's poised to take over at the hybrid "star" role.

The big get in the portal was Oregon State cornerback Jermod McCoy, who earned Freshman All-America honors a year ago. Temple transfer Jalen McMurray was one of Tennessee's most consistent cornerbacks this spring, and true freshman Boo Carter and Middle Tennessee transfer Jakobe Thomas are both new faces to watch at safety.

On paper, this looks like a much bigger issue than it is.

The Vols had to get more athletic in their secondary this offseason. And that meant letting some contributors leave in the transfer portal.

Tennessee didn't lose any players that they were desperately trying to keep.

Sure, it hurts to lose the depth. But for the Vols' youth to get a chance, and for Tennessee to have a shot at upgrading via the transfer portal, the program had to let some guys explore other options.

Tennessee's new-look secondary will have to prove itself in 2024 -- no one is denying that. But this is a group that has considerably more upside than the Vols' secondary has had since Josh Heupel's arrival in 2021. If anything, there's reason for optimism that Tennessee's secondary will be significantly better in 2024 than it was in 2022 and 2023.

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