Tennessee football: Top 10 SEC stars Vols have to account for in 2022
Scouting Report. 6. 850. Pick Analysis. Defensive back. South Carolina Gamecocks. Cam Smith. player
6’0″ 188 pounds
Jordan Battle isn’t the only defensive back who will give Tennessee football lots of trouble this year. Jalen Carter certainly isn’t the only defensive player in the SEC East who will cause problems for the Vols. Cam Smith of South Carolina is a defensive back in the East destined to give them a ton of trouble this year.
Everybody talks about Spencer Rattler and how he should resurrect Shane Beamer’s offense, and that’s true. However, the biggest reason the Vols could lose this game on the road is because it’ll be late in November after they have played six straight without a bye, opening themselves up to more turnovers than usual.
Smith could be a catalyst for those turnovers. Last year, he had three interceptions and a forced fumble along with 11 pass deflections. Add in his two and a half tackles for a loss, and he can do it all. If Smith isn’t being physical or intercepting a pass, he’s shutting down one side of the field, which could result in the Vols turning it over elsewhere.
Last year, Smith was out against the Vols, so he’s also destined to make up for that. Alabama’s Eli Ricks and Georgia’s Kelee Ringo also both almost made this list as defensive backs, but Ringo is unproven without last year’s dominant UGA front seven, and Ricks is coming back from injury. As a result, Smith is Tennessee football’s biggest SEC threat there.