The secondary turnover continues.
Another Tennessee defensive back has entered the transfer portal. De’Shawn Rucker, a former three-star prospect, has decided to look for a new school.
On3’s portal tracker picked up on the news.
Tennessee DB De’Shawn Rucker (@d_rucker22) has entered the NCAA transfer portal, @On3sports has learned. https://t.co/YSiw1GOP6N pic.twitter.com/a4QV9YSNdC
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal_) December 11, 2023
This one makes a lot of sense. Rucker only appeared in four games this season for Tennessee, and only in one of those games did he see a defensive snap. He was a key special teams player for the Volunteers back in 2022, but saw his role diminished by Tennessee’s decision to rep younger players there.
Rucker started two games in 2022, but had virtually no role defensively in 2023. His final appearance this season came against Alabama back in October.
Rucker was the 406th ranked player in the 2021 recruiting cycle, per 247Sports. He’s originally out of the Tallahassee, Florida area. He held offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida and several others. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Tennessee’s secondary overhaul continues here as Rucker joins Warren Burrell, Brandon Turnage, Jack Luttrell and Doneiko Slaughter in the transfer portal.