Two former Super Bowl champs give Tennessee Vols' defense the highest praise

The Tennessee Volunteers' defense has been nothing short of exceptional through the first four weeks of the college football season.  At 7 points allowed per game, the Vols sit in the top five in the country in fewest points allowed per game.

So, where do the Vols rank among the nation's best overall?  Beyond just the stats?  Two former Super Bowl champions put Tennessee at the top of their lists during a panel discussion on CBS Sports.  Former Notre Dame offensive lineman and Green Bay Packer Aaron Taylor and ex-49ers star offensive lineman Randy Cross both took Tennessee over Georgia and several other SEC schools.

"I'm gonna say Tennessee just because, watching them on tape and how elite they are at the defensive line position - as a former offensive lineman, you can appreciate what it is they do there," said Taylor, who won Super Bowl XXXI with Green Bay.  "This Tennessee team looks complete, Rick.  We talked about it at the top of the show. Every time I put the tape on and watch them, they're impressive."

After Rick Neuheisel picked Georgia and Brian Jones went with Texas, Cross - who won Super Bowls XVI, XIX, and XXIII with San Francisco - also gave the nod to the Vols, with a little dig at a common debate thrown in for fun.

"I'm going with UT," said Cross.  "Tennessee, sorry.  Tennessee, the number one overall defense in the SEC, the number one rushing defense in the SEC.  They're a perfect complement to that Heupel offense.  If you panic at all against this defense, you are in serious trouble."

Taylor and Cross know a thing or two about solid, hardnosed play in the trenches, where they faced off against the game's best defensive linemen.  While Tennessee's defense has been strong from the front end to the back, it's pretty undeniable how good of a job the Vols are doing on the front end, particularly against the run and getting into opposing backfields.

It's been a great August/September for the Vols, but they'll have to keep it going as the schedule gets tougher.  It sounds like at least two experts feel like they have the horses to be able to do it.

Related: Tennessee Vols get a confusing slight by one national outlet in latest bowl projections