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Tennessee football: Nigel Warrior makes top 50 underrated players for 2018

By Billy Williford

LEXINGTON, KY - OCTOBER 28: Daniel Bituli #35 and Nigel Warrior #18 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrate a recovered fumble against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - OCTOBER 28: Daniel Bituli #35 and Nigel Warrior #18 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrate a recovered fumble against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Although the Vols might not have the best of years, some of the media is taking notice of the talent Tennessee has. Nigel Warrior could be one of the most talented players on the team.

In the recent past, the national media hasn’t been too kind to Tennessee football, and it’s players. And, maybe that’s because whenever it seems like the media is on board with the team on Rocky Top, somehow the Vols let them down.

Remember the 2012 season when College Gameday came to Knoxville for the Tennessee-Florida game? Yeah, Tennessee let all the media down. And, I don’t want to continue to bring up Butch Jones, but if the 2016 season wasn’t a letdown, I don’t know what is.

However, if it ever seems like someone won’t let down the media with preseason hype it is safety, Nigel Warrior. Athlon Sports published a piece giving their picks of College football’s top 50 underrated players for 2018 and Nigel Warrior made their list.

Here is what they had to say about the junior safety.

"New Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt is a defensive back coach by trade and should help Warrior elevate his play into a spot among the SEC’s top players in the secondary. Warrior recorded 83 stops, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles and one interception last year."

They are spot on with their assessment. Head coach Jeremy Pruitt should do wonders for the development of an all-ready All-SEC type of player. In his two seasons with the Vols, he has a total of 105 tackles, with one interception, and three forced fumbles.

Warrior was one of the headliners in the 2016 class. And, after his first season, he was voted to the All-SEC Freshman team.

Now, as Tennessee is switching to a new scheme that could be good and bad news. For Warrior, it means a better position so to speak to make bigger players. However, with the lack of talent on the outsides, he may have to make up ground for them.

Next: Top 5 games in 2018 fans should be most excited about

It is tough to tell just how good Warrior will be. One thing is for sure that he is most certainly underrated as the nation continues to overlooked Jeremy Pruitt and the Vols in his first season as head coach.

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