All for Tennessee
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 9
Next
Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images
Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images /

Projected backup returners

Ty Chandler; Senior; 5’11” 209 pounds; Nashville, Tenn.

The arrival of Velus Jones Jr. moved Ty Chandler to Tennessee football’s backup kickoff returner. Chandler will likely be the Vols’ feature back, so the in-state product of Montgomery Bell Academy will likely want to focus on that role. In three years, though, Chandler has returned 35 kickoffs, and he ran one back for a touchdown in 2017. Simply put, he’ll still be valuable here.

Bryce Thompson; Junior; 5’11” 185 pounds; Irmo, S.C.

He’s far too valuable a cornerback to be a kickoff returner, but Bryce Thompson could provide some value here if needed. The product of Dutch Fork High School in South Carolina returned four kickoffs last year and averaged a solid 25 yards a kickoff, so he could be elite in this role. As a result, he’s the No. 2 return man on here.

Jabari Small; Freshman; 5’10” 177 pounds; Memphis, Tenn.

A three-star all-purpose back committed out of Briarcrest Christian in Eads, Tenn., Jabari Small isn’t going to play this year at running back. Chandler, Eric Gray and Carlin Fils-Aime have the all-purpose back roles locked up. However, Small was recruited for his speed, so he could provide value in the return game. Pay attention to see if Jeremy Pruitt uses him there.

Shawn Shamburger; Senior; 5’11” 185 pounds; Mobile, Ala.

The only other person on UT’s roster with experience returning kickoffs is Shawn Shamburger. Like Thompson, the graduate of Colquitt County High School in Moultrie, Ga. despite being from Alabama is too valuable a defensive back to start. He also fumbled a kickoff return once. But the Georgia high school product has returned two kicks for 21 yards apiece, so he could be useful here.

Home/Vols Football