Tennessee Volunteers

Cam Sutton announces he will return for his senior season

Published Jan. 14, 2016 2:38 p.m. ET

foxsports

The offseason of good news continues for Tennessee, as the Volunteers star cornerback Cam Sutton announced he would return for his senior season Thursday. Sutton joins linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who also declared his intension to returnfor one more season on Rocky Top this week.

Sutton has started every single game of his three-year college career, including the 2013 season opener, when, as a true freshman, Sutton recorded his first college interception. During his time with the Vols, Sutton has routinely been matched up against opponents' No. 1 receivers and has a knack for making big plays for the defense.

YaDiggWhatImSaying pic.twitter.com/uixTOxzIaA
— Orange Swarm (@CamSutton23) January 14, 2016

Sutton has recorded 104 tackles, six interceptions, three forced fumbles and 11 tackles-for-loss at Tennessee. The cornerback also excels as the team's punt returner, having scored two touchdowns on punt returns this season alone for the No. 4-ranked punt-return unit in the nation.

Facing the graduation of both starting safeties this offseason, the Volunteers' transition in the secondary will obviously be smoother with the return of a veteran presence in the defensive backfield. How Sutton fits in under new defensive coordinator Bob Shoop's defense remains to be seen, but the new Tennessee coach did mention Sutton in his introductory press conference Tuesday.

"Cam Sutton is certainly a premier corner," Shoop said Tuesday. Tennessee's new coordinator was then asked what would be his pitch to keep Sutton in orange for one more season.

"The thing I do well is I identify players' strengths and put them in a position to make plays," Shoop said. "If you look at my record over the last seven years, I’ve produced a lot of players that have went on to great success in the NFL. That’s one of the things I do a really good job of. I can help players develop and take their game to the next level."