Jalen McMurray wanted to transform into a leader in the Tennessee secondary in his second season with the program.

Circumstances before the Vols even stepped on the field for spring practices made that role all the more important.

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Less than a month after Tennessee's 2024 season ended in a loss to Ohio State in the first round of its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance, arguably its most important returning player on defense in defensive back Jermod McCoy suffered an ACL injury in offseason training that sidelined him for the spring.

McMurray saw opportunity, not so much for the chance to prove himself at corner, but to fill the leadership void left by McCoy in a young secondary.

"My mindset hasn't really changed," McMurray said. "I feel like coming into this year, I really wanted to be more of a leader, more vocal, especially for the young guys. To win a championship, we need everybody on the roster. So, really bringing those guys up and set the culture. Try to create a championship culture is what we're trying to do."

McMurray helped provide that and more.

The Temple transfer, who totaled 14 tackles and defended four passes in 13 games in his first season with the Vols, McMurray flashed his versatility in 15 spring practices through March and early last month.

The 6-foot, 187-pound McMurray split time between corner, where he primarily played as a reserve last season and STAR, where Tennessee returns Boo Carter but is still without Jourdan Thomas after suffering a season-ending injury in fall camp last year.

For McMurray, the transition was helped by the fact that he played the position at times in his three seasons at Temple. He played some STAR last season, too. Maturity has allowed him to balance both.

“I feel like I’m old enough that I know that I need to dedicate time at corner, too and STAR," McMurray said. "So, being able to know what I need to work on at corner and differentiate that with what I need to work on at STAR. I feel like I've done a pretty good job of that."

Playing STAR has allowed McMurray to showcase the parts of his skillset that he doesn't quite get to at corner.

Coverage is important at both positions, but STAR is where McMurray can get more physical with blockers and he talks about the differences with a gleam in his eye as if he enjoys it more.

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"The physicality," McMurray. "At corner, you're mostly guarding someone running straight, running the route. But, I feel like my physicality really shows when I'm at STAR. Being able to take on blocks, set edges, blitz. Things like that."

But McMurray says he doesn't have a preference. He'll play anywhere.

McMurray has played special teams in addition to his roles at corner and STAR, and with new additions to the secondary this past spring have given him given him a chance to develop those leadership skills he went into the offseason wanting to work on.

That freshman group, which includes former four-star Tre Poteat and three-star Dylan Lewis.

"All of them," McMurray said. "And that's not an exaggeration. I feel like all of them have definitely come in, and not only learn the playbook, but are able to come in and make plays. That's something that the coaches and us, that's something that we wanted to do more of this year is make plays on the field.

"I definitely feel like they're bringing that edge that we want in the secondary."

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