University of Tennessee Athletics
Defensive Backs Competing For Lockdown
August 20, 2015 | Football
Aug. 20, 2015
By Brian Rice
UTSports.com
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- It hangs around the neck of a defensive back as he walks off the practice field, a gleaming trophy of winning a day's hard-fought battle.
The Lockdown Chain may not have the tangible value of a gold chain, but its intangible value to one of the deepest and most competitive positions on Team 119 is immeasurable.
The chain is made up of individual links, one to represent every member of the Volunteers' defensive back corps, players and coaches. There is a lock, which represents the leader of the group that has earned the right to carry the chain and to lead the group. A right earned by the way the player carries himself each and every day, whether that's in the classroom, on the field or way from it.
"It's the defensive backs' brand," said Willie Martinez, Tennessee's defensive backs coach. "It identifies them. The links mean it's each one of them being together as a unit and how it's linked together."
The natural assumption is that the chain is won solely on the turf of Haslam Field each afternoon during practice. But an award based only on a great play or a string effort would not carry nearly the same meaning.
"People think the lockdown chain is just for locking down receivers on the field, and that plays a part in it, but it's symbolic for the group," junior Cameron Sutton said. "Each individual link represents every in the defensive backfield, from the players to the coaching staff. When you put all of those pieces together, everybody working together, and then the lock, which is us coming together."
On thing the staff is looking for each day is the consistency a player brings to the field every day.
"You're representing the group in the right way and being a leader about it," Martinez said of his criteria. "There is going to be adversity throughout each and every day through the week and we're looking for consistency. We like when a defensive back has it for more than a day, two, three, four. Cam won it last year for the season and won it in the spring, so this fall camp has been big time competition because people want it."
Sutton has won the chain with his leadership as well as his play, both of which are infectious to the rest of the unit. His leadership sparked sophomore Emmanuel Moseley to step up his own interactions with the newcomers at the position.
"We encourage the guys to keep going because we know what a grind practice is," Moseley said. "Cam really leads the group and he's showing me how to lead the other guys and the younger players."
Sutton has been a leader and key contributor in each of his three seasons. Redshirt senior Brian Randoph and senior LaDarrell McNeil also bring leadership and a wealth of playing experience to the field and the meeting room.
Having those valuable voices and their experience not only motivates every player at the position, it sparks a battle for playing time. That battle has made every player in the position group better.
"We're teaching each other through competition," Sutton said. "It's a grind out here every day, even when we're not on the field. But as long as we're competing in everything that we're doing and giving 110 percent, we're working for the betterment of the team."
The Lockdown Chain is a visible reminder.
"You want to keep it for the next practice," Moseley said. "Because you know everyone is coming for it."
