On a team loaded with returning starters, it can be difficult for freshmen or transfers to earn playing time.
Tennessee defensive coordinator Bob Shoop has identified a pair of new Volunteers who should play this fall: JUCO transfer DL Jonathan Kongbo and freshman DB Nigel Warrior.
“Heading into fall camp those two would be the most likely of the newcomers to play,” Shoop told SEC Country. “Kongbo is physically very imposing, he’s eager and he’s done a great job the past two months getting stronger and faster.
“Remember, football is still fairly new to him. He played high school football in British Columbia for a year, went to Wyoming and then a junior college in Yuma (Arizona Western), so it’s not like he’s a 19-year veteran.”
Warrior, on the other hand, has grown up with football as the son of former UT DB Dale Carter. He frequently demonstrates that familiarity with the game.
“Warrior is very natural, and the game seems to come easy to him in that he’s very fluid in his movements,” Shoop said. “I feel like with all of the different packages we have, featuring multiple defensive backs, it will be hard to keep him off the field when all is said and done.”
Shoop essentially confirms what Saturday Down South’s Dan Harralson predicted when he named Kongbo and Warrior to his list of three summer arrivals who could help Tennessee this fall.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
