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Tennessee football: 5 needs for Vols to address in 2020 recruiting class

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 5: The Tennessee Volunteers mascot Smokey runs through the end zone after a score against the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 5, 2013 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 5: The Tennessee Volunteers mascot Smokey runs through the end zone after a score against the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 5, 2013 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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4. Kickers and Punters

Brent Cimaglia and Joe Doyle were sophomores this year, so they’ll be seniors in 2020. Tennessee football did not bring in any kickers or punters for its 2019 recruiting class, and that means they have some work to do for the future.

Paxton Brooks is still on the roster, which is good for Rocky Top since he was just a freshman. That’s also why this is down to No. 4 on this list and not higher. But Jeremy Pruitt only used him as a kickoff specialist. Him being the only legitimate kicker by the time 2021 rolls around isn’t going to cut it for the Vols.

As a result, Pruitt needs to spend time on the recruiting trail finding guys to bring in. The Vols should always have a collection of three different guys in a kicking and punting rotation, and they ideally need a legitimate starter and backup.

If Pruitt gets a kicker and punter for 2020, they can redshirt that year and become four-year starters the next year. By the way, don’t underestimate the importance of kickers and punters either when it comes to the Vols.

History has shown that these are critical positions to the success of Rocky Top. A solid kicking game would have won them the 1990 national championship, and it did win them the 1998 national championship. Punting won them a share of the SEC East in 2003 and has been the sole reason for numerous UT wins against ranked teams. Simply put, Gen. Neyland’s sixth game maxim is important to the program and should be to Pruitt.

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