Thrown into the fire last season with authority, Cameron Sutton hardly had the luxury of a trial run in his inaugural collegiate campaign.
But now, with 15 starts tucked neatly under his belt, the sophomore cornerback is sliding into more of a teaching role this season — despite being one of the countless underclassmen who litter Tennessee’s roster.
“I know where everybody else is supposed to be around me,” Sutton said. “Last year, I just kind of focused on myself and just not let the mistakes get to me last year. This year, I know where everybody else is around me. I know where guys are supposed to be.”
“Just that one-year experience just helps me prepare better for the games. Last year, I was just kind of going in there and after a week of preparation just going in there and trying to make plays. This year I feel more prepared and comfortable out there.”
Through three games, that added level of comfort has been on display in abundance for Sutton, who’s garnered 16 total tackles, a pass breakup and an interception in 2014.
However, no moment was more riveting than what the Jonesboro, Ga., native did in the waning moments of last Saturday’s loss to the Sooners.With the Vols trailing by 24 late in the fourth quarter, Sutton wrecked Oklahoma wide receiver Durron Neal on a swing pass out of the backfield — the hit causing Neal to writhe in pain for an extended amount of time.
“You always got to enjoy hitting the opposing team,” Sutton said with a smile. “That physicality and the mindset of being in a street fight go out there every time on the field and just imposing our will on the opposite team.”
No rest for the weary: Despite UT head coach Butch Jones’s constant plea for lower snap counts among the defensive starters, many of those same individuals pulled double duty on special teams and defense versus the Sooners.
“You get a little tired when you get our there, but at the end of the day when that play is snapped, you gotta go hard,” said sophomore Jalen Reeves-Maybin, a special teams star turned starting linebacker. “You can’t let up at all.”
With last Saturday’s 8 p.m. start time resulting in the low-60s temperature at kickoff, the cooler weather conditions were a welcome break for the overly-used Reeves-Maybin.
And it showed on the field for the 6-foot-1-inch, 230-pounder, who racked up nine tackles and recovered a fumble late in the third quarter after Matt Darr’s punt glanced off an Oklahoma player.
“The weather was good — a lot cooler than what we’ve had here — so we felt good all four quarters,” Reeves-Maybin said. “That comes from the guys on the strength staff. So we felt comfortable out there.”
A glimmer of ‘Beast’: During two of the six practice periods that were available to the media, senior A.J. Johnson ran through drills with the running backs instead of participating with his usual linebacker unit.
“He tries to get coach Jones to let him run the ball every day,” Reeves-Maybin said. “That’s something that he loves. A.J. just loves to make plays out there.”
While Johnson has upped his role this season to a full-time special teams and defensive contributor, the Gainesville, Ga., native hasn’t taken an offensive snap in nearly two years.
In 2012, Johnson carried the ball 12 times for only 21 yards but recorded an astounding six touchdowns as part of the “Beast Package.” Five of those ground scores came against SEC competition, including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Missouri and Kentucky.
“A.J. is great guy, and he is a great leader on this team,” running back Jalen Hurd said. “Him joking around like that is funny because he is a great athlete, and he could probably do the drills we do.”
