Cornerback Talent Heads South: Jalen McMurray Commits to Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee has strengthened its secondary with a valuable addition from the transfer portal. Jalen McMurray, an experienced cornerback who spent the past three seasons at Temple, officially declared his commitment to Tennessee this Tuesday.
McMurray made his entry into the transfer portal on December 27th. Standing at 6 feet tall, the cornerback showcased his skills in 27 games for Temple, recording impressive stats with 90 tackles, one interception, and 12 credited pass breakups. Despite redshirting in 2021, McMurray still has two seasons of eligibility left.
After exploring options at Bowling Green and Illinois, McMurray ultimately selected Tennessee. His decision bolsters the Volunteers’ cornerback position, where Jermod McCoy also joins the portal class, providing crucial experience to the team. Tennessee is undergoing significant changes in its secondary this offseason, losing all five starters after the recent season.
The transfer portal has seen a notable influx of defensive backs for Tennessee, with a total of seven players making the move. This has resulted in considerable turnover in the secondary, leaving all positions up for grabs in the upcoming spring. Rickey Gibson is expected to lead the way at cornerback, and now, with the addition of McMurray, head coach Willie Martinez faces the task of assembling a cohesive and competitive unit.
