Transfer CB commits to Tennessee, happy to join ‘family atmosphere’
Temple cornerback transfer Jalen McMurray, who was a two-year starter for the Owls, explains his choice to commit to Tennessee.
Jalen McMurray traveled to three schools on successive trips last week after entering his name to the NCAA transfer portal less than two weeks ago. But his first visit to Tennessee’s campus made it easy for him to determine where he wanted to continue his undergraduate career.
The Temple cornerback, who was a redshirt sophomore this season, announced Tuesday afternoon that he has committed to the Vols, providing Tennessee a transfer cornerback with plenty of starting experience. He chose the Vols over Illinois and Bowling Green after all three teams hosted him on formal visits last week.
The 6-foot, 180-pound McMurray joined Oregon State transfer Jermod McCoy as the second transfer cornerback to chose Tennessee in less than three weeks. He has two remaining seasons of eligibility.
McMurray said he didn’t have to evaluate his options for long after closing up his formal visit to Knoxville on Saturday and Sunday. He claimed he couldn’t pass up the chance to play in the SEC and be part of the “family atmosphere” at Tennessee.
“Honestly, once I took the Tennessee visit and I got to meet the people there, and got to experience the things I experienced there, it was an easy choice,” said McMurray, who started all 12 of Temple’s games in 2022 as a redshirt freshman and started 11 games this season. “Well, I mean, it was a hard choice. But once I really finished that and talked to my folks, I committed (Sunday) night.”
He didn’t get a chance to tour any universities in the final months of his recruitment before he signing with Temple in 2021, during the NCAA’s extended dead time for recruiting that was sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic. He said he loved getting a chance to investigate a few choices, and he came away very impressed following his nearly two-day tour with the Vols.
“I mean, the chance to play in the SEC — if you know me, I’m a competitor, so that’s something that’s appealing to me,” said McMurray, a former standout at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C.
“But I just feel like, for myself, and I brought all my family up on that visit, and it was really the family atmosphere that they had up there. Really, being able to talk to the coaches, and it’s really where I felt more at home, in terms of coaches caring. I felt like, also, that competition-wise, it’s somewhere that I can really push myself and truly compete, because they are in the SEC.”
McMurray’s official visit to Tennessee last weekend allowed him to watch the Vols’ SEC basketball opening Saturday night versus Ole Miss. The sellout audience of 21,932 inside Food City Center drew his eye, along with practically everything else he saw and heard while he was on campus.
“I did my research, and I kind of knew what I was walking into — the rich history that Tennessee has, the culture that they have made there. The fan base is one of the top in the nation,” he said.
“I went to a basketball game (Saturday). Being able to witness the basketball game, I could barely hear my mom that was seated next to me talking. That was something that, obviously, being there, being able to experience that, that was absolutely exciting.”
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel’s staff, led by defensive backs coach Willie Martinez, made it obvious to McMurray that the Vols could use his experience in the secondary. They’re aiming to replace seven defensive backs who have entered the transfer portal since the completion of the regular season, along with departed senior starters Kamal Hadden and Gabe Jeudy-Lally.
“I feel like the main thing that was talked about was my experience,” McMurray added. “I started the last two seasons, and I feel like that’s something that I bring to the room. I feel like myself, I know nothing is given, so being able to compete with the guys that are already in the room, I feel like, is a blessing in itself.
“They’ll push me as much as I’ll push them, and I feel like that’ll just raise the bar in our room competitive-wise, which will ultimately set up for success during the season.”
McMurray, who missed one game this season because of an injury, finished the year with 39 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, along with four passes defended. In 2022, he had 49 tackles — including one tackle for loss — and an interception, along with eight passes defended, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
“I feel like I’m a pretty good all-around player. I feel that my understanding of the game is absolutely a strength. I feel like very much playing my two seasons, having two seasons under my belt, there isn’t a lot of things that, scheme-wise, I haven’t seen. Obviously, being in the SEC, it’s a different speed, all that. But I’m absolutely excited, being able to experience all that.”
He said he understands he will have to contend for playing time at cornerback. Tennessee also boasts McCoy and a couple other excellent, younger guys at the position, along with a pair of new signees.
“They stated that they’ve got some young guys, and they’re heckuva players,” McMurray added. “They’re very athletic. They stated to me that I do bring a sense of, because I’ve begun two seasons, experience in college ball. But they also indicated that there’s going to be some competition in that room, so that’s something that I’m actually extremely thrilled about.”
McMurray said he likes Martinez’s “energy,” and he’s thrilled about playing for Martinez and the rest of the Vols’ staff.
“I met everyone on the coaching staff,” McMurray said. “It was just exciting. It was a family feeling, and it’s where I felt at home. Coach ‘Nez and all the other coaches on the coaching staff, Coach Heup, they made me and my family feel at home. And that’s something that I’ll always remember and the reason why I decided to go there. …
“Man, he’s a character, and I love that,” he continued, referring to Martinez. “My parents love him. I love him, (and my) sister. It’s his enthusiasm, and I’m really pleased to be mentored by him.”
With Tennessee having won a combined 20 games over the past two seasons, and with former five-star recruit Nico Iamaleava taking over as the Vols’ starting quarterback, he said he’s enthusiastic about their potential over the next several years.
“I’m very excited to just be a part of something like that, being part of a team that I feel like can compete for a national championship,” McMurray said. “Especially with this 12-team playoff that’s coming up, I feel like that gives us an even better chance of being able to compete and being able to do what I feel like the end goal is and win a national championship.”
