Tennessee football: Projecting two-deep depth chart for 2021
Punter
1. Paxton Brooks
As Tennessee football’s starting punter over the past year and a half, Paxton Brooks is the one sure returning starter on this team. He was fourth in the SEC last year in averaging 43.6 yards per punt, and 13 of his 49 punts went for 50 yards or more while 17 of them pinned opponents inside the 20-yard-line. One of his punts went for 61 yards.
The 6’6″ 195-pound senior is known for his powerful leg and has developed accuracy over the last year and a half as well. He was a hyped up punter coming out of high school, and this year, he could be the best at his position in the SEC. There’s a reason he was Preseason All-SEC and named to the Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List.
2. Kolby Morgan
Nobody else on the roster actually has punter as a title. Toby Wilson and Chase McGrath are pure place kickers, and Marshall Ware, J.T. Carver and Daniel Bethel all fit that profile too. In fact, Kolby Morgan is the only player on the team listed solely as a punter.
Brooks’ title actually doubles as punter and place kicker, even if he’s mainly just the punter. Anyway, because of all this, by default, Morgan has to be the backup punter. The 5’11” 195-pound true freshman will likely take a redshirt this year, but as last year showed, backup special teams players can sometimes find themselves thrust into the spotlight.