Temple cornerback transfer Jalen McMurray committed to Tennessee football on Tuesday afternoon just days after officially visiting Knoxville.
#Committed 🧡 pic.twitter.com/4jJ3RjrNEN
— Jalen McMurray (@Jalen_McMurray) January 9, 2024
A two-year starter at Temple, McMurray entered the transfer portal earlier this offseason after totaling 38 tackles and four pass deflections in his redshirt sophomore season.
McMurray has two-years of eligibility remaining after redshirting the 2021 season at Temple and starting each of the last two seasons for the Owls. Temple struggled during the 2023 season, posting a 3-9 record, but McMurray’s play was solid.
McMurray is an unranked transfer portal prospect according to both 247sports and On3.
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The 6-foot corner allowed 26 catches for 455 yards and three touchdowns on 41 targets during his redshirt freshman season. McMurray missed one-game due to injury during the 2023 season but still totaled 742 snaps and earned a 66.5 PFF grade.
McMurray is a versatile defensive back who started one game at safety for the Owls during the 2023 season due to injuries in Temple’s defensive backfield.
The Upper Marlboro, Maryland native joins a Tennessee defensive backfield that’s been decimated by the transfer portal this offseason. Tennessee lost seven total defensive backs to the transfer portal this offseason including four cornerbacks.
In fact, the Vols don’t return a single defensive back starter from their 2023 roster moving into the 2024 season due to both the transfer portal and graduation. Tennessee has more intriguing options at cornerback with talented freshmen Rickey Gibson and Jordan Matthews as well as Oregon State transfer Jermod McCoy.
The Vols have less intriguing options at safety as they return Andre Turrentine, Christian Charles, Will Brooks and Jourdan Thomas while adding MTSU transfer Jakobe Thomas to the roster.
