Vols Targeting Texas A&M Graduate-Transfer Cornerback Nick Harvey

Head coach Jeremy Pruitt stated toward the end of March that the Vols defensive backfield still had a lot to learn. Apparently, he hasn’t changed his mind one bit.

According to 24/7sports.com, the Vols hosted Texas A&M graduate-transfer cornerback Nick Harvey over the weekend. He attended the Orange and White Game on Saturday.

The 5’10” 185-pound defensive back has visited two other SEC schools (South Carolina and Auburn), as well as Arizona since officially declaring that he was moving on from the Aggies. He cited a lack of playing time under new coach Jimbo Fisher as the main reason for departing from the program.

“Going into my last year of eligibility, I felt like they wouldn’t give me the chance to compete for the starting job anymore. I don't have anything bad to say about coach Jimbo Fisher or any of the coaches on the coaching staff. I actually love those guys. I just felt like I wasn’t getting a chance to compete for the starting job.” - Nick Harvey, via Bryan-College Station Eagle.

Harvey appeared in every single game except for one, while starting all 12 games in 2016 before tearing his ACL prior to last season. He medically redshirted and will be eligible to play as soon as he graduates from A&M in May.

A former four-star recruit and U.S. Army All-American, Harvey was ranked as the No. 60 overall prospect and No. 7 cornerback in the 2014 class. He was a pretty big deal coming in, even drawing comparisons to Tyrann Mathieu in some circles.

Adding Harvey would address a major need for the Vols. They lost their three top cornerbacks from last year and were only able to recruit one true cornerback in Brandon Davis.

Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Tennessee tried to persuade graduate-transfer Terrence Alexander to come to Knoxville, but he chose LSU last week. They have also made multiple position changes - most notably Alontae Taylor and Carlin Fils-Aime - to add more bodies in the secondary in hopes of finding someone who can step up and play the position.

If Harvey decides to head down south, he will join quarterback Keller Chryst and running back Madre London as the third graduate-transfer on the team.