Transfer Jakobe Thomas grew up a Tennessee football fan, but opener will be first Neyland Stadium game

Jakobe Thomas grew up a Tennessee Vols football fan in Tullahoma, but he never got the chance to go to a game at Neyland Stadium.

Next weekend, he'll be running through the Power T as one of the Vols himself. Thomas, a Middle Tennessee State transfer, has been counting down the days until the season opener.

"I've always watched the games from the outside in," Thomas said Friday. "So next Saturday will be my first time stepping in with a full crowd and actually being able to be a part of the experience ... They say Vols fans are the craziest, so I'm so excited to just walk into Neyland and play a game."

Tennessee lost almost its entire defensive secondary this offseason. Thomas was one of Conference USA's best safeties the past two seasons.

When he arrived in Knoxville, it appeared the starting spot was his to take, but walk-on Will Brooks has made it a competition. Brooks got some first-team reps at safety before UT closed practices last week, and coaches have spoken highly of him in preseason.

Defensive coordinator Tim Banks said it's a "fluid situation for everybody". Thomas has had a "really good camp," Banks said, and he's a good tackler with a physical presence.

"I like what he has ... I'm excited about where he is and his development," Banks said. "I got to see it in games like I got to see all these guys play in games. Practice is one thing, obviously playing in game is another thing. But if he stays true to what he's done, I think he'll have a big year."

Sophomore Rickey Gibson and Oregon State transfer Jermod McCoy are projected to start at cornerback. Temple transfer Jalen McMurray and redshirt freshman Jordan Matthews will also be in the rotation.

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Andre Turretine is expected to start at safety as Brooks and Thomas compete for the other safety spot. Sophomore Christian Harrison and freshman Boo Carter are competing at nickelback.

The speed at Tennessee has been on another level for Thomas, who had to adjust to competing against SEC-caliber receivers in practice every day. But things have "definitely slowed down" now that Tennessee is wrapping up preseason, Thomas said.

"I'm definitely very, very comfortable in the defense," Thomas said. "I feel like I know it like the back of my hand. So I feel like I'm really, really comfortable in that now."

Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on Twitter @corahalll . If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Transfer Jakobe Thomas grew up a Tennessee football fan, but opener will be first Neyland Stadium game