Josh Heupel updates Wesley Walker, Andre Turrentine's progress after first practice

Tennessee had some clear issues with depth last season, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite that they had a great bounce back year in 2021, and in the offseason made some moves in the transfer portal in order to bolster their roster. The Vols signed a pair of Tennessee natives and former high school teammates in defensive backs Wesley Walker and Andre Turrentine, who head coach Josh Heupel talked about following their first practice of training camp.

“I think both are very coachable, they have a high care factor, they have a good football IQ and understanding,” Heupel said. “Wesley, the amount of times he’s been in college football, he’s able to take a scheme that he’s ran before and transitioned it into the verbiage we have but it’s been a fluid transition for him. Made a big play out there today, I want to see those guys compete in every area, that’s special teams, it’s on the defensive side of the football, you know there’s a lot of opportunity to earn reps on the defensive side of the football.

Walker spent three seasons at Georgia Tech, where he racked up 96 tackles in his career along with six pass break ups. He brings some veteran experience and leadership to the Vols at the safety position, while the redshirt-freshman Turrentine brings youth and a lot of potential. Turrentine spent his freshman year at Ohio State, and was rated the number eight player in the state coming out of high school according to On3 Consensus.

“You’ve heard me, you heard coach Banks yesterday talk about us having to play more guys to have competition, we need more guys to show that they’re going to play at a championship level. But those two guys bring some of the football movement that we wanted and they have a high care factor,” Heupel said.

The Vols are hoping that the safety duo can help them this season, but Heupel and Banks have been stressing this offseason that despite having more depth, that their new players will have to prove it during camp in order to touch the field this season.

Tim Banks discusses improved depth for Tennessee in 2022

Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks heads into his second season in the role for the Volunteers. Heading into training camp, Banks was asked about how confident and comfortable his side of the ball is looking.

“Always confident, comfortable I don’t know about that. We obviously still got a lot of work to do, but we’re definitely excited just with the number of student athletes we obviously have in the program at this point. When first got here we’re obviously struggling with depth, we feel like we at least have more scholarship bodies, obviously it’s our job to figure out what they can do and put those guys in the best possible position. So I don’t know if I’m comfortable, but we’re definitely excited to have those guys here,” Banks said.

Roster depth was definitely an issue for Tennessee last season, as Banks was handed the reigns of a defense that was decimated by players leaving the program for thetransfer portal. Tennessee definitely has bolstered their roster, which will surely help them this season, but Banks’ philosophy is that even with much more depth you still have to earn playing time for the Vols. 

“I think that’s a little bit yet to be determined, but again we obviously have more scholarship bodies at this point,” Banks continued. “We just had a defensive meeting and my message to those guys, we’re going to play all of the guys who’ve earned the reps. But, the reality of it is you’ve gotta earn it. But do we have more bodies, absolutely, and that’s a good thing, that’s great a great starting point. But obviously as we continue to divvy out reps and who has the honor of running out there with that starting group, that’ll be based on the work that those guys put in and I know those guys are eager to get to work. So we’ll find out soon exactly how depth we will have.”