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Posted: Wednesday August 11, 1999 01:33 PM

Deon Grant Tennessee Deon Grant tips a pass in last year's national title game. Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport Position:  Free safety Height:  6'3" Weight:  205 Hometown:  Augusta, Ga. Stat to note Led Vols with five interceptions and six passes broken up in '98. Scouting report Calling junior Deon Grant a big-game player might just be a bit of an understatement. No player came up bigger in the clutch during Tennessee's national-title run as Grant. In the Vols' five biggest games last season, the aggressive free safety made at least one critical, momentum-changing play. Take the Vols' 20-17 overtime win over Florida, where he had an amazing one-handed, touchdown-saving -- and likely game-saving -- interception. Or against Georgia and Arkansas, when he picked off passes in the end zone. In the SEC championship game, it was yet another interception that helped set up a touchdown. Finally, in the Fiesta Bowl, Grant tipped a pass that led to a Steve Johnson interception and sealed Florida State's fate. Take away just one of those and perhaps the Vols are still wondering what could have been. Now the Vols are only wondering how good Grant can become.