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Tennessee football: Five bold predictions for 2020 season

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 29: A general view of Neyland Stadium during the South Carolina Gamecocks game against the Tennessee Volunteers on October 29, 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 29: A general view of Neyland Stadium during the South Carolina Gamecocks game against the Tennessee Volunteers on October 29, 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images
Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images /

2. Two Vols, including Trey Smith will earn All-American honors

It’ll be hard for the Big Ten, Pac 12, Mountain West or MAC to have a strong case for All-Americans, even if the latter three actually have a season this year, given how short their years will be. That favors SEC schools, and Tennessee football could potentially have multiple candidates who earn such honors this year.

For starters, Trey Smith is an obvious one. This guy has been first team All-SEC the only two full years he started at guard already, earning Freshman All-American honors in 2017. He would have earned it playing left tackle in 2018 before blood clots shortened his season. Now, with a full offseason of workouts for the first time since his freshman season, he should explode.

Smith will also already have tons more eyes on him, so he’ll get all the recognition possible. Beyond that, though, who else could earn it? Well, Rocky Top actually has numerous candidates. Cornerback Bryce Thompson was a Freshman All-American himself, and while he had a slight drop-off last year due to missing the early part of the year, he could explode this year.

If not Thompson, we already mentioned the promise of Brent Cimaglia at place kicker. He certainly has the potential to earn All-American honors. Guys who started as freshmen could also make it as they take another major step forward, including Henry To’o To’o and Wanya Morris. Somebody will join Smith as an All-American, though, this year, making for multiple elite Vols.

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