Yes, we had Riley Lovingood ahead of Tyler Byrd. However, Tennessee football is already Punter U in the pros, and they also have one of the best long snappers already playing at that level. Morgan Cox has been with the Baltimore Ravens since 2010 and is a three-time Pro Bowler. That gives the program credibility with long snappers, and Cox and Lovingood both played with Jim Chaney.
Now, Lovingood will obviously not be selected in the NFL Draft. However, he did share SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors as a freshman at the Georgia Bulldogs. That was the Joshua Dobbs to Jauan Jennings Hail Mary win in 2016. Lovingood set up UT’s strip-sack defensive touchdown by catching a punt to pin the Dawgs inside the five-yard line.
Hey, sometimes snappers make plays, and Lovingood certainly did there. After starting four years with the Vols, there have got to be some pro teams who will take a look at his potential as a long snapper, and that’s why his pro potential is surprisingly not in last place on this list.
Honestly, replacing Lovingood is one of the toughest task for the Vols. Kickers and punters depend on good snaps to be able to do their jobs effectively, and although he was inconsistent at times his senior year, Lovingood usually came through. As a result, he could be a huge steal for a franchise.