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Tennessee football 2020 preview by position: Special teams

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 12: Brent Cimaglia #42 kicks the ball held by Joe Doyle #47 of the Tennessee Volunteers against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 12: Brent Cimaglia #42 kicks the ball held by Joe Doyle #47 of the Tennessee Volunteers against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images /

Place kicker

Brent Cimaglia; Senior; 6’0″ 210 pounds; Nashville, Tenn.

The standout player on special teams for Tennessee football, Brent Cimaglia earned second-team All-SEC last year after making 23 of 27 field goals, making nine of 11 from beyond 40 and hitting both of his attempts from beyond 50. He also never missed an extra point and hit the longest field goal since Jeff Hall in 1995, a 53-yarder.

Taking all of that into account, the in-state product of Fred J. Page High School has a lot of hype surrounding him entering his senior year. He still hasn’t missed an extra point in his college career, and he’s been elite on long field goals over the past two years. Now, he did miss two kicks within 40 yards this past year, but if he improves as a senior, he has All-American potential.

Punter

Paxton Brooks; Junior; 6’6″ 194 pounds; Lexington, S.C.

As a freshman, Paxton Brooks backed up walk-on Joe Doyle. That was despite him being a highly-touted recruit. It was very similar to Trevor Daniel, a walk-on, winning the starting job for the Vols over highly-touted Tommy Townsend back in 2015 and then Townsend transferring to the Florida Gators. Also, Doyle earned Freshman All-American honors, appearing to validate the move.

However, midway through his sophomore year, Brooks won the starting job from Doyle. The product of Airport High School in South Carolina averaged 42 yards a punt, had six of 59 go beyond 50 yards and pinned 11 inside the 20. With him being the starter now, though, Doyle has transferred. So the job is his, and expectations are for him to take a major step this year.

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