North, Sutton: 247Sports Frosh All-Americans

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Wide receiver Marquez North and defensive back Cameron Sutton have been named 247Sports True Freshman All-Americans. The duo earned spots on the outlet’s second team. Both players earned SEC All-Freshman accolades last week and were named to College Football News All-Freshman Team as well.

North started all 11 games he played and was the Vols leader in receiving yards with 496 as a true freshman. He finished second on the team with 38 receptions, the second-most by a freshman in Tennessee history. His yardage total ranks as the third-best total by a freshman in UT annals. The Charlotte, N.C., native became the first true freshman since 2009 (Marsalis Teague) to start a season opener for the Orange & White. North had his first career 100-yard game with three catches for 102 yards in the upset win over #11 South Carolina (10/19). That total made North the first freshman since Justin Hunter in 2010 with 100-yard game. North also had his second of two ESPN SportsCenter Top 10 plays in the game with a remarkable 39-yard one-handed grab.

Sutton had a standout season in his inaugural campaign on Rocky Top. The Jonesboro, Ga., native made 39 tackles as he started all 12 games in 2013. Sutton led the Vols with nine passes defended including two interceptions and seven pass break-ups. He also had four tackles for a loss with a sack and two fumble recoveries. Sutton was the Vols’ first true freshman to return an interception for a touchdown since Eric Berry (2007 at Florida) on a 36-yard return vs. WKU (9/7). His second interception came in the Vols’ upset win over South Carolina (10/19). He became first true freshman to start in secondary since Justin Coleman (2011) in season opener vs. Austin Peay (8/31).

Palardy Named ESPN.com 1st Team All-SEC

 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s Michael Palardy was named the ESPN.com All-SEC first-team punter on Monday. Palardy continues to pile up honors as he has already been named the AP All-SEC Honorable Mention Punter and the All-SEC Coaches Second-Team kicker. Palardy is slated to play in the Medal of Honor Bowl Game in January. He was also named the College Sports Madness third-team punter in the SEC.

A Ray Guy semifinalist, Palardy finished the year with a 44.5 punting average, ranking him third among UT punters with a minimum of 50 punts in a single season. Palardy finished his career with a 42.9 punting average which ranks second all-time at Tennessee. The senior launched 18 punts of 50 yards or more while 17 of Palardy’s punts landed inside the 10-yard line and 33 inside the 20-yard line.