Tuttle a poster child for senior class' grit

Tennessee’s senior class won’t be remembered for a lot of things.

They did beat Georgia and Florida. The did spend time ranked and they went to bowl games. They also had a winless SEC season, were a part of a coaching change and some never played for the same position coach.

Their legacy? Toughness and a refusal to quit.

No one epitomizes that more than Shy Tuttle.

The North Carolina native spent more time on crutches in the offseason than he did not. This week as Tuttle reflected on his career on Rocky Top, he made it clear it wasn’t about what might have been.

“Honestly, everyone goes through adversity,” Tuttle said. “Some people don’t get to play the game. I think of it as bigger than football. I had a chance to rehab and get back out there. I tried not to get down about it when I was trying to get back.”

Tuttle has never been bitter. Tuttle is watching good friend Trey Smith go through the unknowns of his career. He’s also draws plenty of motivation from his uncle Tyson Tuttle.

“I have great family and good friends,” Tuttle said. “I’m actually really close to my uncle. He’s paralyzed from the waist down. I would talk to him and he would always have a smile on his face and talk positively to me. I can’t get down about being out with an injury for a few months and he can’t walk for the rest of his life."

Tuttle has 27 tackles in 2018. A week ago against Kentucky, He had three tackles, a half tackle for loss, a quarterback hurry, and a blocked field goal. Against Auburn, Tuttle had four tackles and a half tackle for loss. Tuttle’s most pleasing stat of 2018: 10 games played to this point.

It’s a testament to his perseverance.

“I want to be remembered as a guy who did the right things,” Tuttle said. “Anytime I stepped on the field I was a competitor. Hard worker and someone for little kids to look up to.” “I just can’t believe four years have gone by this fast. It really doesn’t feel like it.”

Head coach Jeremy Pruitt said this week that the senior class deserves a lot of credit for the way they have brought in and helped set the foundation for his program.

"I think the seniors we have, most of them have graduated, and the few that have not are graduating this semester. That is why they came here is to get a degree. If you look back there are some really good times for this group and some times they probably wish they had back. In the last 11 months, these guys have really bought in and they have really tried to do what we've asked them to and we are thankful for that. Hopefully some of these guys behind them can follow their lead and the expectations and standards of how they went about their business."

Added Tuttle, “We have had alot of adversity. Some positions have had alot of different coaches. We just stayed close to each other and have had a close brotherhood and family relationship.”

It’s those relationships that mean the most for Tuttle citing he’s made lifelong friends that will be at his wedding and he will be at theirs. It’s those relationships that Tuttle will take with him most when his time in orange is done.

“Ending that Florida streak was pretty big,” Tuttle said of his career highlights. “Meeting all the people honestly. I still have a good relationship with coach Strip (Steve Stribling) and coach Rocker. All the coaches, family, friends, it’s more than the game. All the life lessons in college.”

As for making it to the end despite two major leg injuries, Tuttle is not surprised.

“I am a strong willed individual," Tuttle explained. "One of my favorite quotes is what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. It’s been a long journey.”

A journey that’s made him and his classmates certainly seasoned for whatever adversities they face in life after football.