2020 Four-Star Safety, Doneiko Slaughter, Chooses Tennessee

Tennessee has picked up a commitment from 2020 four-star safety Doneiko Slaughter today. The hard-hitting prospect from Roswell (GA) chose Tennessee quickly after backing off of his pledge from Arizona State earlier this week. Slaughter is now on an official visit in Knoxville with other top targets and commits. This is a big pickup for the Vols, filling an immediate void created by the flip commitment of Mordecai McDaniel to Florida last night.

Slaughter is an athletic safety whose game is defined by his tackling. At six feet even and one hundred eighty pounds, Slaughter may not look the part of an old school, hard hitting safety, but that is precisely what he is. The role of a safety that serves as a hammer to opposing receivers and ball carriers has become more difficult with the changes to targeting rules and the concerns over defenseless receivers, but Slaughter manages to fill that role well while playing within the rules. Slaughter has a knack for delivering a highlight reel hit to opponents when they come across the middle or when he steps up in run coverage. In the passing game, those kinds of hit cause receivers to hear footsteps later in the game, as well as making receivers and quarterbacks more cautious about going over the middle of the field. In run support, Slaughter hits harder than a fair number of linebackers, squaring up and bringing down much larger backs regularly. Beyond an impressive hitter, Slaughter is a sound tackler. The distinction is an important one to make. Slaughter is not only a big, trophy hit hunting safety, he is a reliable tackler that can wrap up a ball carrier to get him on the ground. That reliability has at times been an issue that has hurt Tennessee in the past, and the presence of Slaughter should tighten this up for the Vols.

In modern college football, the roles of strong and free safeties have blurred, but Slaughter tends more toward a traditional strong safety role due to his hitting. That said, he is solid in coverage as well. Where other defenders may choose to break up a pass using ball skills, Slaughter separates the receiver from the ball with a hit. Still, Slaughter can turn and run well and cover plenty of ground on a deep ball. He has good range for either safety and reads offenses well. He gets himself into the right position to make plays. Slaughter is a quality cover safety with the ability to be an enforcer. He brings multiple layers to the Tennessee defense and can play in various roles for Derrick Ansley.

Slaughter is currently rated as a four-star on Rivals.com and the 27th overall prospect at the safety position. He measures in at 6’, 180lbs.

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