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Tennessee football: Team awards for 2021 season

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel congratulates wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) during senior day ceremonies before the start of the NCAA college football game between the Tennesse Volunteers and Vanderbilt Commodores in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 27, 2021.Kns Tennessee Vanderbilt Football
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel congratulates wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) during senior day ceremonies before the start of the NCAA college football game between the Tennesse Volunteers and Vanderbilt Commodores in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 27, 2021.Kns Tennessee Vanderbilt Football /
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Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) points to a South Carolina defender as he runs downfield in the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, October 9, 2021.Utvsc1007
Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) points to a South Carolina defender as he runs downfield in the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, October 9, 2021.Utvsc1007 /

Special Teams Player of the Year: Velus Jones Jr.

Nobody was really a problem on special teams this year. Chase McGrath made every extra point while going 12-of-16 on field goals, and Paxton Brooks was as reliable as anybody could have asked for when it came to punts. Christian Charles and De’Shawn Rucker each blocked punts this year as well.

However, when it came to special teams, Velus Jones Jr. was easily Tennessee football’s most consistently reliable player. His abilities in the return game were among the best in the nation, and that is one thing the Vols are going to miss in a big way going forward.

Jones returned 23 kickoffs for 678 yards, averaging 27.3 yards per return, and he ran one back for a touchdown. He also averaged an amazing 15.1 yards per punt return, running 18 back for 272 yards. There was a second kickoff return touchdown he should have had, against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, but an irrelevant penalty waived it off.

Either way, though, Jones was a major weapon to have on special teams, and as a 6’0″ 200-pound fifth-year senior this past year, he won’t be able to come back. He made one mistake all year, a muffed punt against the Ole Miss Rebels, but he almost made up for it with an elite return late that should have resulted in a game-winning drive.

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