Tennessee football: Top 10 in-state Vols on 2019 roster

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 24: Jauan Jennings #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs up the sideline with a 67-yard touchdown reception against the Florida Gators in the fourth quarter at Neyland Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Florida 38-28. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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We go to the first projected starter on the list. And he’s a guy right from Knoxville. Joe Doyle showed signs last year of continuing Tennessee football’s tradition as Punter-U, and he did it the exact same way Trevor Daniel did it: by winning the job as a walk-on ahead of a highly rated recruit brought in by the coaches.

Similar to many freshmen, Doyle did struggle with consistency at times throughout the year. But he still had 12 of his 65 punts go 50 yards or longer, including a 71-yarder, and 23 punts were nailed inside the 20-yard-line. In the end, Doyle averaged 41.1 yards per punt. This season, he figures to take another major step.

In fact, in terms of producing at a specific position, Doyle could make a case to be way higher on this list. However, a punter can only impact a game so much. After all, Daniel and Dustin Colquitt are the only two who can truly say they’ve won big games for the Vols.

That doesn’t mean they aren’t important, though, and Doyle is once again expected to be of some importance for Rocky Top this year. Hey, he’s a locally grown product who is a favorite to start. That counts for something.

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