Tennessee football roster: Projecting Vols’ 2019 2-deep depth chart

Punter

1. Joe Doyle

Redshirt Sophomore, 6’0″ 209 pounds

Joe Doyle continues Tennessee football’s tradition as Punter U, and he did it in a similar way to Trevor Daniel. Both were redshirt walk-ons when they won the job from higher-touted recruits. And last year, Doyle proved his value.

As a redshirt freshman,  Doyle averaged 41.1 yards per punt and pinned 23 of his 71 punts inside the 20-yard line. Demonstrating his leg power, he had a 71-yard punt and 12 punts overall that went for 50 yards or more, along with 28 punts that were fair-caught. The key for him this year is more consistency, and if that happens, he could become a superstar punter.

2. Paxton Brooks

Sophomore, 6’6″ 196 pounds

Paxton Brooks was the highly touted punter Doyle beat out for the job last year. It’s actually surprising that Brooks returned to the Vols. Still, Brooks is a solid backup as he has a huge leg, which is why he is the kickoff specialist. If anything happens, Brooks will have an easy time stepping in as the new punter.

Long-Snapper

Riley Lovingood

Redshirt Senior, 6’0″ 220 pounds

The Vols may be in transition for their field goal snapper, but Riley Lovingood has been a consistent long-snapper for them for three years now. He enters his redshirt senior season bringing as much value as a long-snapper possibly could.

Remember, Lovingood shared honors as a freshman as special teams player of the week back in 2016 when he caught a punt from Daniel to down it inside the 5-yard line against the Georgia Bulldogs. The Vols finished that drive with a strip-sack touchdown to take the lead. They later won off the famous Joshua Dobbs to Jauan Jennings Hail Mary. But that’s how Lovingood can demonstrate his value.