Tennessee football: Top five juniors for Vols 2019 season

It’s rare for a kicker to be on a list like this. But Brent Cimaglia could turn into a huge advantage for Tennessee football given what he’s proven so far. After all, last year was his first full season as a starter, and he did not disappoint.

Cimaglia was 10-of-13 on field goals. More importantly, he was four-of-six on field goals 40 yards and beyond, and he was six-of-seven on field goals 39 yards or less. And he didn’t miss an extra point. Combine that with a 50-yard field goal he made as a freshman, and he’s almost automatic under 40 and has a big leg to go with it.

As a result, Cimaglia is the perfect combination for a kicker. He just needs more opportunities to kick field goals, and Jeremy Pruitt probably knows that as well. If the Vols get past the 50 more often this year, Cimaglia could become a major advantage.

Joe Doyle is a great punter, and Paxton Brooks is very good on kickoffs, but a place-kicker has a much bigger impact than both. If you’ve got a reliable one, he can make the difference in three to four games a year, and that applies at the high school, college or pro level. Just ask the Vols from 1998 with Jeff Hall.