Tennessee football cornerback Cameron Sutton is representing the Volunteers secondary as a player named to the Preseason Jim Thorpe Award Watch List.
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He has already been named on watch lists for two separate awards that go to the top defensive player of the year, so it was only natural that Tennessee Vols defensive back Cam Sutton would be named to the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List.
Sutton was announced on Monday afternoon on the 2016 watch list, right as SEC Media Days was taking place, as a player in the running for the award.
He is one of about 40 players who were named to the list, including five SEC players.
Although he appeared to have a bit of a fall-off last year, injuries in the secondary left Sutton having to make up for a lack of support, which hurt him at cornerback. He can still shut down one side of the field, and he has started every game since he has played at Tennessee.
Now, as one of the seniors who decided to forgo the NFL Draft, Sutton is one of the biggest leaders on the Vols.
He has received All-American honors and been named to multiple preseason All-American teams. So the expectations for this likely future NFL star are high.
If Sutton does win the award, he would follow in Eric Berry’s footsteps. Berry won the award back in 2009 and should have won it in 2008.
Many services consider Sutton to be a Top Five cornerback in the country.
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The Thorpe Award winner will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 8 at The Home Depot College Football Awards.