The 2018 college football season is right around the corner. And Jeremy Pruitt is still making the final touches to his staff at Tennessee.
According to his Twitter, former Florida State defensive back Nate Andrews will be joining the Vols as a graduate assistant for the 2018 season. Andrews spent five seasons with the Seminoles, starting 20 games and appearing in 53 games as a member of the Seminoles.
I’m excited to announce that I will be joining the University of Tennessee staff as a GA! Excited to take this next step in my career by learning from the best! #GBO ?#PoweredByTheT
— Nate Andrews (@NateAndrews29) August 12, 2018
Andrews was a true freshman during Jeremy Pruitt’s one season as Florida State’s defensive coordinator in 2013, and current Tennessee safeties coach and special teams coordinator Charles Kelly served as the Seminoles’ defensive coordinator for the remaining four years of Andrews’ time at Florida State. Current Tennessee quality control assistants Tino Sunseri and Bert Biffani also served as quality control coaches at Florida State while Andrews was a player there.
Pruitt helped recruit Andrews to Florida State as part of the 2013 recruiting cycle. Andrews was a mid-tier three-star, ranking as the No. 697 overall player and No. 51 cornerback in the 2013 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Andrews went from a mid-tier prospect to being voted a second team Freshman All-American by several outlets.
As a player, Andrews saw a promising playing career get muddled by injuries. He played in all 14 games as a true freshman and started a game that season, picking off four passes and breaking up four more. He was an All-ACC third team selection and Freshman All-American. He started 13 of Florida State’s 14 games in 2014 and totaled 93 tackles to go along with three interceptions and five pass breakups.
Then, injuries happened.
Andrews started four games in 2015 and played in 13 games, but injuries kept him from starting more and making an even bigger impact on the team. His 2016 season got off to a promising start, but an injury forced him to miss most of the season after playing in only four games. He received a medical redshirt that season and came back for a fifth year in 2017. Last year, Andrews appeared in 10 games and started the Seminoles’ season finale and their bowl game.
In five seasons with Florida State, Andrews totaled 189 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, eight interceptions, 13 passes defended, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and two interceptions returned for touchdown.
