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Tennessee football: Trey Smith named AP Preseason All-American

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 Associated Press joined the Tennessee football Volunteers senior offensive lineman’s bandwagon.

Preseason expectations continue to pour in for Tennessee football superstar Trey Smith. On the same day Sporting News named Smith a first-round NFL Draft pick for 2021 and a top 30 NFL Draft prospect, a more distinct honor came his way..

AP named Smith first-team preseason All-American at guard for 2020, and that list includes players on teams who have postponed their fall sports. Smith adds this recognition to being on the Wuerffel and Outland Trophy watch lists for his official pieces of preseason recognition.

Joining Smith at guard was Ohio State Buckeyes junior Wyatt Davis, but Ohio State is postponing fall sports for this year. Oklahoma Sooners junior Creed Humphrey rounded out the interior line for the first team.

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This official recognition for Smith comes one day after Tennessee football came in at No. 25 in the preseason AP Poll. It’s the first preseason ranking for the Vols since 2017, when they also came in at No. 25. They were one spot out of the top 25 in this year’s Coaches Poll.

Also, the Jackson, Tenn. native’s new addition to his list of preseason awards comes a week after the new Vols’ roster updates. Smith, a graduate of the University School of Jackson, still stands at 6’6″ but increased his size from 325 pounds to 330 pounds.

Earning first team All-SEC honors in the only two full seasons he started, both at guard in 2017 and 2019, Smith has proven his abilities. The only question is if he can stay healthy given the blood clots in his lungs, which cut short his 2018 campaign and kept him out of full offseason activities before the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

However, Smith’s decision to stay for his senior season despite being projected in last year’s NFL Draft is paying off with all this recognition. Should he live up to it, he could become a household name on Rocky Top.

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Of course, his life will be made easier if transfer guard Cade Mays receives eligibility. That would make for an elite Tennessee football interior line with Smith, Mays and sixth-year senior center Brandon Kennedy. After not allowing a sack last year and being an already proven elite run-blocker, Smith’s help would allow for him to be more dominant.

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