KNOXVILLE — Izauea Lanier’s last stint as a starting cornerback was anything but technical.
The Tennessee sophomore was the best player on his Gordo (Ala.) High School team, and his defensive tasks then were simple.
“They just put me on the best receiver,” Lanier said after the Volunteers’ practice Monday morning. “It wasn’t really a natural position. Basically I was going off my ability when I was playing before. I really didn’t have the technique down pat, so me getting the technique is making me more comfortable with everything that I’m doing.”
Lanier has become so comfortable with the position and defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox’s playbook that the junior college transfer has nabbed a starting corner spot just four games into his career with the Vols, who will host Buffalo at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Lanier will become the third player to start opposite Marsalis Teague in the Vols’ defensive backfield. Justin Coleman started the season’s first two games, but the freshman was victimized on some big plays and lost his starting spot to fifth-year senior Art Evans, who started in UT’s loss at Florida.