KNOXVILLE – According to Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt, the Volunteers’ defense has a long way to go.
The unit lost a lot from last season, including four linemen and a couple of key backs.
While the defensive line still is being pieced together and linebacker depth is being developed, the secondary will be counted on for much of the leadership.
Which is why it doesn’t hurt that the team’s most experienced returning defensive player works back there.
Nigel Warrior is a 6-foot, 191-pound senior who has played in 36 of 37 career games and started the last 24 in the defensive backfield, and he became one of the team’s captains after his reliability and success in 2018.