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Tennessee Football: Bednarik Award Watch List Evidence of Vols Stout Defense

By Tanner Carson

Sep 26, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (21) and defensive back Emmanuel Moseley (12) during the first quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (21) and defensive back Emmanuel Moseley (12) during the first quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Three Vols were named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list on Tuesday, which is evidence that Tennessee Football should have a very stout defense in 2016.

On Tuesday it was announced that three Vols defensive players were named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list according to the Maxwell Football Club.

Related Story: Evaluating the Vols 2017 Recruiting Class at Dead Period: Linebackers

Defensive end Derek Barnett, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, and cornerback Cam Sutton were the three Vols named on the list. The complete list includes elite defenders such as Alabama’s Jonathan Allen, Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett, Florida’s Jalen Tabor, and Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers.

The Chuck Bednarik Award has been awarded annually to the top defensive player in the nation since 1995. No Tennessee player has ever won the award, although Vols’ linebacker Kevin Burnett was named a semi-finalist in 2004.

This is the second appearance on the Bednarik watch list for Barnett and Sutton and the first appearance for Reeves-Maybin.

The watch list marks another case of the continued preseason hype for the upcoming Tennessee season. Two weeks ago, Athlon Sports named five Vols to their preseason All-American teams. Also recently, McIllece Sports named Tennessee No.1 on their preseason Top 25 list.

The Vols have been a consensus ranked top 10 team in preseason polls from multiple outlets. Also, players such as quarterback Josh Dobbs and running back Jalen Hurd have been listed as potential candidates for the Heisman Trophy.

For the three Vols named to the Bednarik watch list the honor is well-deserved and is indicative of the on-field success they have had up to this point.

Barnett is one of the top defensive prospects in the country, ranked No. 6 in the 2017 NFL Draft class according to Walter Football, and has recorded 20 sacks and 33 TFLs in his first two seasons at Tennessee. Sutton is one of the best cornerbacks in the SEC and has been a consistent performer since his freshman season. Reeves-Maybin is arguably the best linebacker in the SEC, has recorded 100-plus tackle seasons the past two years and will be one of the significant leaders for the Vols this season.

must read: Evaluating the Vols 2017 Recruiting Class at Dead Period: Running Backs

Tennessee looks to field a very stout defense in 2016 under new defensive coordinator Bob Shoop. If the Vols can combine team success with great performances from Barnett, Sutton, and Reeves-Maybin, do not be surprised to see one of them go from Bednarik watch list to finalist at the season’s end.

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