Tennessee football: Ranking all nine transfer portal additions by potential impact

Tennessee linebacker Juwan Mitchell (10) drills during fall practice at Haslam Field in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021.Kns Tennessee Fall Practice
Tennessee linebacker Juwan Mitchell (10) drills during fall practice at Haslam Field in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021.Kns Tennessee Fall Practice /
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Sep 1, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans placekicker Chase McGrath (40) kicks a field goal during the first half against the UNLV Rebels at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans placekicker Chase McGrath (40) kicks a field goal during the first half against the UNLV Rebels at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

Pick Analysis. Place kicker. 2. player. Chase McGrath. 839. Scouting Report. Redshirt senior

Previous school: USC Trojans

Brent Cimaglia was Tennessee football’s starting kicker the past three years until the final two games of 2020. Toby Wilson filled in for Cimaglia and didn’t attempt a field goal while missing one of his extra points. Now, Cimaglia is with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

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Josh Heupel went out and added USC Trojans transfer Chase McGrath to fill Cimaglia’s place. Although McGrath lost his starting job last year to a young kicker with more potential, he is a proven producer at the position. As a result, he is arguable the safest bet of any player from the portal to start this year.

In his most recent year starting, 2019, the 6’0″ 195-pound kicker hit 14 of 17 attempts (82.4 percent) and all 54 extras points. He was perfect on field goals inside 30 yards, hit all but one inside 40 and went 4-of-6 on field goals 40 yards and beyond, nailing his only 50-plus yard attempt from 52 yards out to be exact.

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That’s exactly what you need in a college kicker: Somebody who is automatic inside 30 and on extra points, almost automatic inside 40, hits more than he misses inside 50 and can hit kicks beyond 50. McGrath fits that mold, so he’s going to start.