Tennessee football: Vols top 30 players since 1998 national championship

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 12: Eric Berry #14 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on against the UCLA Bruins on September 12, 2009 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. UCLA beat Tennessee 19-15. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 12: Eric Berry #14 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on against the UCLA Bruins on September 12, 2009 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. UCLA beat Tennessee 19-15. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images)
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In similar fashion to Evan Berry, Cameron Sutton is on this list because of his special teams play. He was a very solid everyday starter, to be fair, but he didn’t do enough as an everyday cornerback to be on this list.

Combining his value there with his value as a punt returner, however, does put him on this list. Sutton joined Berry as two Tennessee football All-Americans on special teams in 2015, as he was the All-American punt returner.

That year, Sutton had two punt returns for touchdowns and averaged an amazing 18 yards a punt return. Even the year before, he was historically great by averaging over 11 yards a punt return and having a touchdown.

On top of his special teams play, though, Sutton had seven interceptions and 13 tackles for a loss for his career, despite missing half the 2016 season. He also had a pick-six his freshman season in 2013, meaning as a cornerback, he scored four touchdowns in three years from 2013 to 2015.

Simply put, Sutton was consistently a reliable playmaker for Tennessee football and did more than enough to be on this list. Again, it’s his value as an everyday starter that puts him here above Berry, even as both are on here for their returning abilities.

Sutton was beloved as a cover guy on Rocky Top as well. He managed to scare people away from throwing the ball his way and was very athletic. In 2016, his injury was brutal for the Vols, as they were trying to make a run down the stretch of the season. That showed his value even more for us to put him on this list.