Josh Heupel took over a Tennessee team that required a full roster rebuild. As much as Heupel wanted to focus on the offense, the Vols had been hit hardest on the defensive side of the ball. The transfers that had left the program, Bryce Thompson leaving early for the NFL, and players that exhausted their eligibility left Tennessee thin across the board on defense, and the corner position was especially hard hit. In 2021, Tennessee was able to mitigate some of the struggles there thanks to excellent play from then senior Alontae Taylor. Taylor played a huge role in the Volunteer defense, and hid a lot of deficiencies with depth behind him. Now, 2022 sees Taylor as a member of the New Orleans Saints, and Tennessee using corners like senior Warren Burrell, and juniors Dee Williams and Kamal Hadden. This group has stepped up to start the season, but in the immediate future, Tennessee is in need of high caliber corners to replace these upper classmen quickly, once their eligibility is exhausted. Corner has been a position Josh Heupel and Willie Martinez has pursued aggressively, and they have some talented corner prospects committed in the 2023 class. Among them, and perhaps the most impressive, is Cristian Conyer from South Warren High School in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Conyer and his teammates at South Warren opened their 2022 season at Western Kentucky University, playing Highlands in the first game of the 2022 Rafferty’s Bowl. This was an important game for the Spartans as it was not only their first game, not only on a big stage, but also was the first game in their defense of their 2021 5A Kentucky State Title. Conyer was a key member of that team for South Warren, and has emerged as a leader for his senior campaign.
Conyer is 6’2” and 180 pounds, with a long, lean, lanky frame. Conyer has very long arms and legs for his size. The long arms allow him to have a much wider zone to defend when trying to break up passes, and the long legs give him a fluid, easy stride that beliefs the speed of which he is capable. Conyer can make up ground on speedy receivers without even looking like he is trying hard. He just runs smoothly and easily, and he covers a ton of ground while doing it. That speed, coupled with his long arms, height, technique, and scrappy attitude make him shine as a corner, particularly in press man coverage. Conyer has the size and skills to play in whatever defense is asked of him at the next level, though his height makes him appear to have everything required in a shut down corner.
To put this in perspective, the highest compliment an opponent can pay an corner is to simply not test their side of the field. Each play, Highlands quarterbacks looked up, picked out number two in black, and then proceeded to ignore his side of the field. Highlands didn’t attempt to throw at Conyer a single time, something that is such a boon to a defensive play caller. Having a corner that takes away half of the field allows so much opportunity in defensive schemes, and Conyer provides that to the Spartans. He very nearly made an interception on a throw that wasn’t going to his man, but he read the play and came off to where the ball was going. His own safety tipped the ball, and likely prevented Conyer from having a turnover.
The caliber of athlete that Conyer is means that he also plays offense and special teams for South Warren as well. Conyer gets work at wide receiver, running back, and in the return game. At the next level, it is unlikely that Conyer sees the field much on offense, however he should prove to be a consideration in the return game. Conyer flashes his speed with the ball in his hand at any position, and he runs hard with the ball. He has good quickness and change of direction, but he is harder to bring down than his frame would lead you to believe. Conyer doesn’t mind contact, whether he is running through a defender or stepping up to make a tackle in run support. He truly is the total package at corner with significant upside as a returner as well.
Corner is an area of emphasis for Tennessee this cycle, as they need to add depth behind upperclassmen and bring in players that can make an immediate impact as the Tennessee defense sees more snaps than most. Conyer certainly looks the part of a player prepared to step into that role. Conyer is another player Josh Heupel has recruited that has impressed not only with physical skills, but also attitude and leadership. It will be interesting to see where Conyer lands once he arrives in Knoxville.
