Why Baylen Buchanan is poised for a bigger role in Tennessee's secondary

Tennessee defensive back Baylen Buchanan (28) and linebacker Quart'e Sapp, obscured, force Georgia running back Elijah Holyfield out of bounds during their game Sept. 29 in Athens, Ga.
Tennessee defensive back Baylen Buchanan (28) and linebacker Quart'e Sapp, obscured, force Georgia running back Elijah Holyfield out of bounds during their game Sept. 29 in Athens, Ga.

Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt meets with media after Wednesday’s practice.

Posted by Tennessee Vols Update on Wednesday, October 10, 2018

KNOXVILLE - Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt offered a public challenge this week to a player who is expected to spend a significant amount of time at one of his defense's most important spots Saturday.

A shuffling of parts in the secondary after an injury to freshman safety Trevon Flowers means versatile senior Micah Abernathy is likely to play a lot at safety when the Volunteers (2-3, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) visit No. 21 Auburn (4-2, 1-2) for a noon EDT kickoff.

The move is natural for Abernathy, who has spent plenty of time at safety during his Vols career. But it means Baylen Buchanan will likely slide in at the nickel position (fifth defensive back), where Abernathy has regularly lined up this season.

"He is plenty capable of doing it," Pruitt said of Buchanan. "But he will have to raise his level of play if we are going to keep him in there."

Playing nickel will require Buchanan to line up against slot receivers instead of outside receivers. Being closer to the scrum of bodies on the line of scrimmage will bring added assignments for the junior from Lawrenceville, Georgia.

"He needs to improve his tackling," Pruitt said. "He has to be a better blitzer and be more physical. If you are going to play there, there will be a lot more action."

Playing nickel requires a heavier involvement in slowing an opponent's running game. It's a responsibility Pruitt - though clearly demanding - believes Buchanan is mentally poised to handle.

"Baylen is a guy that can play corner and play inside, ability-wise," Pruitt said. "He is a guy that gets it from a mental standpoint. He has a good understanding."

Auburn's sputtering offense is ranked 12th in the SEC in rushing yards per game and 10th in passing yards per game.

Buchanan worked at nickel during spring and preseason practices before settling in as a starting cornerback. Abernathy slid up from safety to play nickel as Flowers and Theo Jackson rotated at safety alongside junior starter Nigel Warrior.

"They've been putting me pretty much everywhere," Buchanan said, "so I'm still comfortable with it, even though I've been more corner at the beginning of the season and then coming and playing nickel. It wasn't that hard transitioning because I'm pretty comfortable with the position."

Buchanan said there are some different techniques involved with playing nickel. He also said time spent studying video and talking with coaches has helped him nail down the responsibilities of the role.

"You're definitely more in the run (defense), so you get to tackle more," he said. "You're blitzing more. I like it, it's fun."

Sophomore defensive back Shawn Shamburger is another option at nickel and safety. Todd Kelly Jr., who received a medical redshirt last season, has returned to playing special teams, and the fifth-year senior could challenge for time at safety as his collegiate career nears its conclusion.

"We are trying to find ways," Pruitt said, "to get our best players on the field."

Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidWCobb and on Facebook at facebook.com/volsupdate.

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