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Tennessee football: Trey Smith jumps 11 spots in website’s top 50 players

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 20: LaBryan Ray #89 of the Alabama Crimson Tide battles with Offensive lineman Trey Smith #73 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Alabama won 58-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 20: LaBryan Ray #89 of the Alabama Crimson Tide battles with Offensive lineman Trey Smith #73 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Alabama won 58-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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The Tennessee football Volunteers offensive lineman is now a top 20 player for 2020.

Hype surrounding Tennessee football senior guard Trey Smith has been clear ever since he made the decision to return for his final season on Rocky Top back in January. He’s consistently been considered a potential All-American prospect.

Now, though, with his decision to play despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the danger it presents to him with blood clots in his lungs, the hype behind him is even growing. That’s especially the case with the Big Ten, Pac-12, MAC, Mountain West and four Independents postponing fall sports due to the virus.

So many postponements have resulted in Tennessee football jumping in preseason rankings, and they are now resulting in Smith himself jumping. He moved up from No. 31 to No. 20 in the 247Sports updated ranking of the top 50 players in college football for 2020. Here’s what was written about him.

"When able to play, Smith is among the nation’s top overall lineman. A 6-foot-6, 335-pound mauler capable of playing tackle and guard, Smith earned All-SEC honors a season ago. He didn’t allow a sack in 2019 and also graded out as the top run blocker in the SEC, per PFF College. A blood clot issue disrupted Smith’s sophomore season and endangered his career, but he came back with authority last season and projects as one of the top draft prospects in the 2021 cycle."

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Earlier in the week, Smith generated more hype when he led an outrage group on Twitter slamming the NCAA hypocrisy for its decision not to grant an eligibility waiver to Georgia Bulldogs transfer guard Cade Mays. Both players were Freshman All-Americans and are very talented guards, and they were expected to start together for UT this year.

Without Mays, though, Smith is still a huge reason for the hype behind the Vols’ offensive line. A two-time First Team All-SEC guard who earned the award the only two full seasons he played, he is a proven talent with tons of experience.

If the 6’6″ 335-pound Jackson, Tenn. native can stay on the field despite the health issues he has, there’s a good chance he earns All-American honors. The guy is already a first-round NFL Draft prospect on many boards.

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Simply put, there was already lots of excitement behind Smith’s senior year with Tennessee football, and that excitement is now on the rise with all the new developments happening. He could emerge into one of the biggest stars in the nation now, provided a season happens.

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