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Tennessee football 2019 preview by position: Vols special teams

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 29: A general view of Neyland Stadium during the South Carolina Gamecocks game against the Tennessee Volunteers on October 29, 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 29: A general view of Neyland Stadium during the South Carolina Gamecocks game against the Tennessee Volunteers on October 29, 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Projected backups among kickers

1. Paxton Brooks (Kickoff specialist)

Sophomore; 6’6″ 194 lbs; Lexington, S.C.

Paxton Brooks was the highly rated player Joe Doyle beat out for the starting Tennessee football punter job. However, Brooks will be next in line. And as the kickoff specialist, he’s clearly the top guy off the bench on kicking. Brooks proved he has the leg power, as he was in the top 30 nationally in kickoff yards average at 63.6, and he had 23 touchbacks.

2. Toby Wilson

Redshirt freshman; 5’10” 174 lbs; Brentwood, Tenn.

A walk-on place-kicker, Toby Wilson is the only other guy listed as a place-kicker on the roster. After redshirting, if anything happens to Brent Cimaglia, he’s the guy who will have to step in for the Vols.

3. Marshall Ware

Freshman; 5’10” 175 lbs; Germantown, Tenn.

We usually don’t name every walk-on in these previews, but kickers and punters are a bit different. Marshall Ware brings more depth as a true freshman, and he is listed just as a kicker on the roster, not a place-kicker.

Projected backup long-snapper

Jake Yelich

Redshirt junior; 6’2″ 233 lbs; Crown Point, Ind.

If the Vols do end up with another long-snapper on field goals instead of Riley Lovingood to replace Elijah Medford, Jake Yelich will be that guy. He is listed as the only other long-snapper on the roster.

Projected backups among returners

1. Bryce Thompson

Sophomore; 5’11” 181 lbs; Irmo, S.C.

Behind Ty Chandler, Bryce Thompson returned four kickoffs last  year, and he actually wasn’t too bad, averaging 25 yards a return. So watch out for what he could potentially do this year, especially given how great he is everywhere else.

2. Eric Gray

Freshman; 5’10” 195 lbs; Memphis, Tenn.

Tennessee football struck gold with this speedy four-star running back in the offseason. And given his spot on the depth chart, the Vols might go ahead and use Eric Gray full-time on kickoff returns this year. Hey, as an early enrollee, he’s likely picked some things up already. He also might see some punt return action. Gray is the most versatile kick returner on here for sure.

3. Nigel Warrior

Senior; 6’0″ 190 lbs; College Park, Ga.

After Chandler and Thompson, Nigel Warrior saw some action on kickoff returns, fielding three and averaging nearly 24 yards a return. His father, Dale Carter, was a legendary returner for the Vols in addition to being a defensive back. Could he get a chance to etch his own name in the return history books this year?

4. Shawn Shamburger

Junior; 5’11” 187 lbs; Mobile, Ala.

Another defensive back who returned kickoffs, Shawn Shamburger could move up the list since he might be a bench player, backing up Baylen Buchanan at nickel. He averaged 21 yards on two kickoff returns last year, but he fumbled one against the Florida Gators. That’s why he’s down here.

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