Tennessee football: Trey Smith a Walter Camp Preseason All-American

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: Offensive lineman Trey Smith #73 of the Tennessee Volunteers warming up before the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: Offensive lineman Trey Smith #73 of the Tennessee Volunteers warming up before the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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The senior Tennessee football Volunteers offensive lineman earned a second-team spot.

One of the biggest stories of the year for Tennessee football was Trey Smith deciding to return for his senior season. Smith has twice earned First-Team All-SEC honors as a guard, the only two full seasons he played, and he was on track to earn All-SEC honors at tackle in 2018 before the return of blood clots in his lungs shortened his season.

However, coming off a full season in 2019 and with expectations of being good to go as a senior in 2020, expectations are through the roof for him. Those expectations have now reached a national level for the 6’6″ 335-pound Jackson, Tenn. offensive lineman.

On Thursday, the Walter Camp 2020 Preseason All-American Team had Smith as a second-team All-American on the offensive line. This continues a trend of numerous pieces of recognition Smith has earned recently, including the 2019 Jason Witten Man of the Year Award and the 2020 Fritz Pollard Trophy.

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Smith is likely to continue to receive awards and preseason accolades given his compelling story, and if he remains healthy throughout the year, he is likely to live up to all of his hype. The guy made a splash as a true freshman, even amidst a horrendous season, back in 2017.

With the addition of Cade Mays, who expects to receive an eligibility waiver from the NCAA, Smith is helping to bring a ton of hype to UT’s offensive line this year, particularly on the interior line, where he and Mays could start at guard alongside sixth-year senior Brandon Kennedy at center. Add in guys like Riley Locklear and Jerome Carvin, and that group could be loaded.

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Offensive tackle is still pretty elite too with Wanya Morris and Darnell Wright, after starting as true freshmen, both set to return. K’Rojhn Calbert and Jahmir Johnson further make for an elite rotation. Smith, however, is the star of the group right now. The Tennessee football senior’s recognition Thursday proved that.