KNOXVILLE - Baylen Buchanan slipped out of the secondary rotation in 2017 while battling injuries, but the junior cornerback is grading out as one of the Volunteers' top defenders so far in 2018.
"I thought this was one of Baylen's better games," coach Jeremy Pruitt said Monday of Buchanan's performance in the 47-21 loss to Florida last Saturday.
Buchanan made five tackles and had only one negative play that stuck out in Pruitt's Monday evaluation.
"He's one of the guys that I saw that I felt like answered the bell a little bit," Pruitt said. "I can remember one play in the game that I thought he could've done better on the ball down the sideline. He played a lot of press coverage and guarded guys really well. Baylen has talent, and he's gaining confidence, so that's a good thing."
Buchanan's career appeared promising in 2016 when he appeared in all 13 games and started one as a true freshman. Then came the injury-plagued 2017 campaign in which three seniors and a junior played the most at cornerback.
Now Buchanan is a veteran among a cornerback group that includes true freshmen Alontae Taylor and Bryce Thompson.
"I've got two more years left, and I'm trying to make a difference on the team," Buchanan said. "I want the guys to know that I've got their back. So I try and take that role into every game, especially during practice. I'm trying to get better every day."
Buchanan is one of 16 players from Georgia on Tennessee's roster. There are more Vols from Georgia than any other state besides Tennessee.
The Vols play at second-ranked Georgia on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
"It's always fun going back home to play, especially being from Georgia," Buchanan said. "But you always want to play well. That's every game. But it does add a little bit more excitement just because you're coming back to your home state."
Guarantano's brace
Starting quarterback Jarrett Guarantano wore a bulky brace on his left knee during the portion of Tuesday's practice open to media. The redshirt sophomore left the Florida game on two occasions. He was knocked out for good in the third quarter when Florida's CeCe Jefferson barreled into his left leg after he released a pass.
Guarantano's mobility did not appear noticeably hampered during Tuesday drills.
Sapp present
Pruitt did not directly answer a question Monday about whether redshirt junior linebacker Quart'e Sapp would serve any form of suspension over the ordeal that led to Sapp leaving the sideline last Saturday. But Sapp practiced Tuesdayduring the open portion of practice, running through drills with the other inside linebackers.
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidWCobb and on Facebook at facebook.com/volsupdate.