KNOXVILLE – Tennessee senior defensive back and captain Cam Sutton had every reason to feel sorry for himself early Saturday afternoon.
A leg injury less than six minutes into the Volunteers’ 28-19 win over Ohio sent Sutton to the sideline for the rest of the game, and possibly for much of the rest of the season.
But that didn’t stop him from acting like the leader he has always been, the player Tennessee coach Butch Jones praised as “a role model for what a student-athlete is and what it takes to prepare week in and week out.”
So Sutton went to freshman Baylen Buchanan and repeated over and over: “You’ve got this. You’re ready.”
And Buchanan bought it. The son of former Atlanta Falcons defensive back Ray Buchanan went out under the toughest of conditions and made five tackles and broke up a pass.
“I knew they were going to pick on me a little bit,” said Buchanan, who played at Peachtree Ridge High School in Lawrenceville, Ga. “But I’d been prepping all week. I knew I couldn’t let my team down. After the first drive, the game kind of slowed down for me.”
But Sutton never stopped being a captain and a friend.
“Cam was keeping me motivated,” Buchanan said. “He’s always been like an older brother to me.”
Buchanan wasn’t the only one pressed into unexpected service against the Bobcats. Much as he had to do when linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin was ejected from the opener against Appalachian State, Cortez McDowell again replaced him in this one, only this time because Reeves-Maybin suffered a shoulder injury.
“For myself and Baylen, this was a confidence check for us,” said McDowell, who finished with three tackles. “Just being on point with those other 10 guys on the field.”
This is the essence of the Jones mantra “Next Man Up.” No one is irreplaceable if those behind him prepare every day to step up when needed.
That said, Jones was clearly stung by Sutton’s possible long absence as the Vols begin Southeastern Conference play this Saturday against Florida.
“You give me 11 (players like) Cam Sutton, and we will win a lot of football games,” he said. “It is very unfortunate. Football is a humbling game.”
If Sutton keeps supporting those asked to replace those who go down as well as he offered encouragement to Buchanan, the Vols might still win a lot of football games this year.
Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com.