Tennessee football: Vols top 10 players of the 2010s decade

It was one great year that got him on here, but as a four-year player, Nigel Warrior deserves recognition for the heart and soul he poured into Tennessee football. As a result, his career accomplishments combined with his bang of a senior season were enough for us to put him on this list.

The son of UT legend Dale Carter Jr., Warrior arrived as a four-star safety with lots of expectations. And as one of the fastest players to pick up schemes, he saw action in all 12 games. As a result, when the time came to start in 2017, he was ready. As just a sophomore, Warrior had three forced fumbles and a pick-six.

However, just as he was set to burst onto the scene his junior year, Jeremy Pruitt came in and switched up the defense, installing a 3-4. So Warrior, while starting all 12 games again, had to learn on the fly. Finally, in his senior season, he would start after a full year of starting experience in a system he was familiar with for the first time in his college career. It paid off.

While a few injuries made him look like he struggled early, it paid off. Warrior came away with four interceptions on the year and turned into one of the top playmakers. His efforts earned him All-SEC honors, and they shot him up the ranks of players in this decade.