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Tennessee Football: Vols Should Increase Alvin Kamara’s Role on Special Teams

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 21, 2015; Columbia, MO, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Alvin Kamara (6) runs the ball during the first half against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Columbia, MO, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Alvin Kamara (6) runs the ball during the first half against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee football running back Alvin Kamara is wants a bigger role on special teams, and based on what he is asking for, the Vols should listen to him.

In 2015 Alvin Kamara returned nine punts for 100 yards and a touchdown, and he had another punt return called back due to a penalty. But on Wednesday he said he would like a larger role on special teams in 2016, according to 247 Sports.

And he is right.

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Let’s be clear. If Kamara were asking to replace Evan Berry as the main kick returner, then obviously nobody in their right mind would agree. But that’s not what he said. Here is a quote for him, according to 247.

"“I definitely want some more return work,” Kamara said. “I want to do some more kickoff return, helping Evan, just being an off-returner. And with me and Cam, you know, the punt return thing is still going on.”"

So Kamara simply said he wants to assist Evan Berry in kickoff returns. And that’s not a bad idea.

Last year, Tennessee’s sole focus was using Berry to return kicks. This year, after the season Berry had, teams will try to kick away from him as much as possible. But Kamara on another side if that happens. Then they will be forced to kick it out of bounds to avoid any danger.

Kamara is as lethal a returner as anybody, and he definitely has the ability to mix in on punt and kick returns. Considering that he is a big play speed back, this is where his bread and butter should be as long as Jalen Hurd is the other back taking all of the pounding up the middle throughout a game.

A kick return duo of Kamara and Berry, as long as Berry is the main guy, is simply unstoppable.

And honestly, Kamara should become more of a feature punt returner. The last thing Tennessee needs is for its lockdown No. 1 cornerback to get hurt, and Butch Jones knows that.

As a result, maybe he should use Cameron Sutton less at that position and use the player recruited to do just that.

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Either way, the Vols have a good problem right now in the return game: too many weapons to choose from.

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