Temple cornerback swap Just a few days after making his official visit to Knoxville, Jalen McMurray made his commitment to the Tennessee football team on Tuesday afternoon.
McMurray was a two-year starter at Temple who, in his redshirt sophomore season, totaled 38 tackles and four pass deflections. He then entered the transfer portal early this offseason.
After starting the last two seasons with the Owls and redshirting the 2021 season at Temple, McMurray has two years of eligibility left. Temple had a difficult 2023 campaign with a 3-9 record, but McMurray played well.
McMurray is not ranked by either On3 or 247sports as a transfer portal prospect.
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During his redshirt freshman season, the 6-foot cornerback gave up 26 receptions for 455 yards and three touchdowns on 41 targets. Despite missing one game in 2023 due to an injury, McMurray played in 742 plays and received a 66.5 PFF grade.
Due to injuries in Temple’s defensive backfield during the 2023 season, McMurray, a versatile defensive back, started one game at safety for the Owls.
The native of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, joins a Tennessee defensive backfield that saw a significant reduction in size this offseason due to the transfer portal. This offseason, Tennessee lost seven defensive backs in all, including four cornerbacks, via the transfer portal.
Because of the transfer portal and graduation, the Vols actually don’t have a single defensive back starter from their 2023 roster going into the 2024 campaign. With promising freshmen Rickey Gibson and Jordan Matthews along with Oregon State transfer Jermod McCoy, Tennessee has more interesting alternatives at cornerback.
The Vols have less exciting choices at safety now that they have added MTSU transfer Jakobe Thomas to the roster in addition to returning Andre Turrentine, Christian Charles, Will Brooks, and Jourdan Thomas.