Tennessee football: 10 players most responsible for Vols 2019 turnaround

To be fair, Brent Cimaglia is no better or worse in the turnaround than he was during Tennessee football’s 1-4 start. This guy is the most consistently reliable player on the Vols, and if he were anything other than a kicker, we’d have him a heck of a lot higher on this list. However, even as a kicker, he has helped make a difference in this turnaround.

Cimaglia is 19-of-21 on the year, and in the last five games, he is 10-of-11. Of those 10 makes, three have been from beyond 40, and one has been from beyond 50. In fact, he hasn’t missed from beyond 40 during this run. His only miss was a fluke one inside 40 yards on that windy night against the South Carolina Gamecocks. But he made another one beyond 40 that same game.

His leg built the Vols a major cushion against the UAB Blazers, as they went up 9-0 thanks to a field goal beyond 45 yards and the one beyond 50. Sure, they dominated in the second half, but it wouldn’t have happened without Cimaglia putting them in front early.

Against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, he was even more key. Cimaglia nailed two field goals that kept them up by two-scores. But the key one was a kick from 49 yards out to put them up 10-3 going into halftime. Without his leg, the Vols could very easily be 3-7 right now.