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Tennessee Football 2016 Recap: Ranking the Top 10 Vols Performers of the Season

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) hits Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jacob Eason (10) causing a fumble recovered by Tennessee for a touchdown during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) hits Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jacob Eason (10) causing a fumble recovered by Tennessee for a touchdown during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 19, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Cameron Sutton (23) reacts during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 63-37. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Cameron Sutton (23) reacts during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 63-37. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

Jalen Reeves-Maybin on a smaller scale, Cameron Sutton also has amazing leadership qualities and intangibles that helped to galvanize his team.

And like Reeves-Maybin, he likely would have been much higher on this list had he not gotten hurt through the meat of the season.

However, Sutton did play in seven of the 13 games this year and was able to make enough of an impact to be higher on this list. Early in the season, before his injury against the Ohio Bobcats, he was able to shut down one side of the field by himself.

And he had a clutch interception that helped the Vols beat the Appalachian State Mountaineers.

When he came back later in the year, he was the only thing the Vols had on defense. After being decimated by injuries, he kept them from giving up 50 points a game by doing his part on one side of the field.

So he deserves to be on this list as an all-around player, including his abilities as a punt returner, which were still admirable. In the Music City Bowl, he played flawless, as Nebraska never even looked his way.

Sutton is a true Tennessee football Vol for Life and a great leader. Had he been healthy all year, he could have been an All-American. Still, we will recognize him here for the contributions he made when he was on the field.

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