Tennessee Vols Smokey Points: Top Five Performers vs. the Western Carolina Catamounts

Sep 12, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers mascot carries the flag through the fans during Vol Walk prior to the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

The sophomore punter averaged 42.8 yards per punt, but that was also his net average, as none of his punts were returned, including a 53-yarder that went out of bounds. One of his punts also went inside the five-yard line that was downed beautifully.

The only reason Daniel’s average was not higher was because he was punting too often from a short field. But he has been perfect the entire season for the Vols so far, and he was a big reason that they stayed in the game with Oklahoma last week.

In this game, Daniel consistently kept field position in the Vols’ favor, and that was one of the reasons they were able to take control of the game and get a huge early lead so quickly. A lot of that credit goes to him, so once again, he is a major winner of Smokey Points.

The elite Daniel is starting to look like Dustin Colquitt did for Tennessee in 2003, and that is a major compliment. This all is from a walk-on who beat out a proven fifth-year senior and a highly touted true freshman for the starting job. That is impressive.

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Trevor Daniel

Punter, Sophomore

And once again, the walk-on who was not even expected to compete for the starting punter position looked like the best punter in the country Saturday night, to the point that he should definitely be in the running for the Ray Guy Award.

Daniel had four punts and nailed all of them inside the 20-yard line, which was incredible. Even more impressive was his average when you look beyond the numbers.

The sophomore punter averaged 42.8 yards per punt, but that was also his net average, as none of his punts were returned, including a 53-yarder that went out of bounds. One of his punts also went inside the five-yard line that was downed beautifully.

The only reason Daniel’s average was not higher was because he was punting too often from a short field. But he has been perfect the entire season for the Vols so far, and he was a big reason that they stayed in the game with Oklahoma last week.

In this game, Daniel consistently kept field position in the Vols’ favor, and that was one of the reasons they were able to take control of the game and get a huge early lead so quickly. A lot of that credit goes to him, so once again, he is a major winner of Smokey Points.

The elite Daniel is starting to look like Dustin Colquitt did for Tennessee in 2003, and that is a major compliment. This all is from a walk-on who beat out a proven fifth-year senior and a highly touted true freshman for the starting job. That is impressive.

Next: #1: LaDarrell McNeil