Vols Football: 5 Position Battles To Watch In The Off-Season

Oct 18, 2014; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Vince Sanders (10) makes a reception while being guarded by Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Emmanuel Moseley (12) during the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

Cornerback

It’s obvious that Cam Sutton will be one of the Vols’ starting cornerbacks in the 2015 (he’s the best cornerback in the SEC), but it’s not so obvious who the other starting cornerback will be.

Michael Williams, who started five games for the Vols last season, is suspended indefinitely from the team. His return to the team is doubtful at best.

Justin Coleman, who is hoping to make it in the NFL, started 13 games at cornerback last season. He typically shifted to nickel when the Vols brought an extra defensive back on the field.

Sophomore Emmanuel Moseley is the top option to start in 2015. He started two games as a true freshman in 2014 and saw significant playing time.

Moseley will compete with Justin Martin to be Tennessee’s starting cornerback opposite Cam Sutton.

Martin, a JuCo transfer from Nashville, was rated by 247Sports as the top 2015 JuCo cornerback in the nation.

When it’s all said and done, Martin could end up being one of Tennessee’s top players in an extremely talented 2015 recruiting class. He has the talent to start, and make an impact, from day one.

I think it’s very likely that Martin could end up starting at cornerback with Moseley occupying the nickel position.

Regardless of how the defensive back positions shake out, the Vols definitely have a lot of talent in their secondary.

Enough talent, in my opinion, to be considered a shut-down unit.