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Tennessee football: 10 fall camp position battles for 2021

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee Wide Receivers coach Kodi Burns calls during fall practice at Haslam Field in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021.Kns Tennessee Fall Practice
Tennessee Wide Receivers coach Kodi Burns calls during fall practice at Haslam Field in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021.Kns Tennessee Fall Practice /
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Tennessee wide receiver Jimmy Calloway (9) during Tennessee football’s spring practice on campus in Knoxville on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.Kns Ut Football Practice Bp
Tennessee wide receiver Jimmy Calloway (9) during Tennessee football’s spring practice on campus in Knoxville on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.Kns Ut Football Practice Bp /

8. Punt returner

Kickoff returns are set with Velus Jones Jr. back there. The only way Tennessee football moves Jones away from that role is if the coaching staff is trying to save him given how valuable he is in the offense. However, it’s a completely different story in punt returns.

Eric Gray was the punt returner last year, and he followed a legendary punt returner in Marquez Callaway. With Gray having transferred to the Oklahoma Sooners, Josh Heupel needs to find somebody else who can handle the position. Given the skill players on the roster, he’s got plenty of options across the board. Somebody should manage to step up.

Jimmy Calloway, one of the four-star receivers in the 2020 class, appears to be the biggest standout there. He took lots of reps returning punts in the spring, and with him not likely to move up in the receiver rotation this year, he may be worth using in the return game. Speedster running back Jaylen Wright, a true freshman who showed flashes in the spring, could also play the role.

Outside of those two, there’s no real obvious candidate yet, but fall camp is all about finding who that candidate will be. Still, it’s a relevant position battle, as UT needs to have the edge in the kicking game this year if it’s going to have a chance.

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