Cameron Sutton exceeding Bob Shoop's expectations

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd Tennessee's Cameron Sutton (7) races down the sidelines as he returns a punt for a Tennessee touchdown. The Vanderbilt Commodores visited the Tennessee Volunteers in SEC football action November 28, 2015.
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd Tennessee's Cameron Sutton (7) races down the sidelines as he returns a punt for a Tennessee touchdown. The Vanderbilt Commodores visited the Tennessee Volunteers in SEC football action November 28, 2015.

KNOXVILLE - Bob Shoop knew he was keeping a top-notch cornerback when Cameron Sutton elected to return for his senior season at Tennessee instead of jumping into the NFL draft.

What the first-year defensive coordinator is finding out this spring is that Sutton is better than he thought when he left Penn State to take the job with the Volunteers.

"I knew he was good, but I didn't realize he was this good," Shoop said Thursday. "He's a pro. Someone asked me what's so good about him, and it's his approach. He comes to work every day. He's the first one out doing (work) off the JUGS machine, hitting the sled and doing his block-destruction drills. He helps the young corners out.

"There's not a technique that he doesn't do very, very well."

Sutton made two excellent plays in last Saturday's scrimmage, leaping high to intercept a deep ball and knocking away a potential completion on a slant pattern to Preston Williams. Shoop said the turnover on the second play of the scrimmage helped Tennessee's defense accomplish its goal of starting fast in that initial spring scrimmage.

Sutton's defensive numbers last season - he made 28 tackles (three for loss), intercepted one pass and broke up six others - weren't enough to land him on any All-Southeastern Conference teams, but Shoop believes Sutton deserves more recognition for how good he is.

"You hear other players' names as far as the corners in the SEC, but I think it's about time we start putting him up at the next level," Shoop said. "He's so unselfish and he's so quiet about it.

"He came back not for personal gain. He came back because he's been here for the building process and he wants to see this thing through and compete for an SEC East Division title and get to where we want to get."

No disputing Darrin

While the absence of Jalen Reeves-Maybin this spring has allowed some younger linebackers to receive increased workloads, it's also helped Darrin Kirkland Jr. develop his leadership as he assumes the role as the defense's de facto alpha dog.

"His command and approach," Shoop said, "are like a 10-year veteran."

The sophomore has begun to emerge as a "real leader" on defense, according to Shoop.

The coordinator also said Kirkland has shown similarities to NFL star Luke Kuechly in how he can "beat you with his mind or his athletic ability."

Kirkland often will text-message Shoop about various defensive schemes or that day's practice.

"I said it from the day I (got) here: You coach a long, long time, and he's got kind of a unique personality," Shoop said. "He thirsts for more. He really wants to be the leader of the defense. I don't think it's any coincidence that when he started playing better (last season), the team started playing better.

"He asks good questions. He challenges my thoughts. He's not just a yes man. He's the undisputed leader of the defense right now."

Spring standouts

The defense with which Shoop is working this spring may barely resemble the one he'll employ when the season arrives, but the absence of a handful of players is allowing the coaches to assess some younger players.

Shoop said freshman cornerback Marquill Osborne, who should still be a senior in high school, has been "a real standout" through seven practices.

At linebacker, where the Vols badly need depth, Gavin Bryant, Elliott Berry and Quart'e Sapp have emerged this week.

Tennessee's defensive line is essentially short seven players this spring, but Shoop praised veterans LaTroy Lewis and Danny O'Brien for their consistency and roles in setting the pace for that position group and added that the second-year defensive end duo of Austin Smith and Darrell Taylor "made progress this week."

Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com

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