A look at some of the top position battles that will continue into the weight room and summer workout sessions as the Vols prepare for fall camp.
No. 2 CB
Top Contenders:
• (Soph.) Emmanuel Moseley
• (Soph.) Justin Martin
• (Jr.) Malik Foreman
Others to keep in mind:
• (Fr.) Micah Abernathy
• (Fr.) Darrell Miller
Outlook:
There’s no doubt about who the top cornerback on this team is – junior Cam Sutton. The Vols certainly aren’t lacking for options to man the other starting cornerback in the base 4-3 look, but the battle will rage on this summer to see who will actually claim the spot.
Emmanuel Moseley, an unheralded recruit in the class of 2015, exceeded expectations as a freshman last season, appearing in 13 games, starting two, and playing well beyond what anybody expected from a player that coaches and teammates sometimes jokingly call “two star” because of his low recruiting ranking. He has a good shot to earn that opening-day starting gig against Bowling Green.
But it’d be foolish to rule out highly-ranked junior college cornerback Justin Martin, who arrived on campus in the summer. At 6-2, 190 pounds, he gives the Vols a long, athletic option who will push Moseley and any other contenders. Those other contenders include junior Malik Foreman, who got a ton of experience in the spring and made some really positive strides. Freshmen Micah Abernathy and Darrell Miller will be looking for their opportunity as well in camp.
Who has the most to gain this summer:
All the talk in recruiting was about Justin Martin’s length and athleticism. This summer will be his first chance to show he can cover and play defense at the SEC level. Moseley was one of last year’s surprises of the defense and Martin will get his chance to be that guy this summer.
Predictions:
Foreman, Abernathy and Miller will provide depth and competition, but this is most likely a battle between Moseley and Martin, with possibly Foreman getting in the conversation as well. Martin has superstar potential, but the coaches love the work that Moseley has put in since arriving on campus in the winter of 2014, and that should pay off with the opening game nod. Though this is a battle that could run well into the season with both getting plenty of playing time.
