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Tennessee football: Ranking every starter from 2020 who returned by performance in 2021

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee defensive back Alontae Taylor (2) high-fives fans after defeating South Carolina 45-20 in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football
Tennessee defensive back Alontae Taylor (2) high-fives fans after defeating South Carolina 45-20 in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football /
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Tennessee punter Paxton Brooks (37) punts during the second quarter of the Music City Bowl, Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, at Nissan Stadium in NashvilleCfb Music City Bowl Purdue Vs Tennessee
Tennessee punter Paxton Brooks (37) punts during the second quarter of the Music City Bowl, Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, at Nissan Stadium in NashvilleCfb Music City Bowl Purdue Vs Tennessee /

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Punter. Paxton Brooks. 839. Senior. 6. player

6’6″ 195 pounds

Two specialists who deserve a mention are Matthew Salansky and Toby Wilson. Salansky has been the long snapper the past two years. However, it’s hard to really consider a long snapper a returning starter, so Salansky and Paxton Brooks are turning into a package deal with this one.

Wilson started the final two games of 2020, after Brent Cimaglia shut it down, but never played before that. As a result, Brooks alone makes this list, and he deserves it. Brooks averaged 44 yards a punt. That number was an improvement of .4 points over 2020 despite Tennessee football moving the ball a lot more and giving him lots more short fields to punt.

In terms of efficiency, over 40 percent of Brooks’ punts pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line. That was good for fourth in the SEC. Simply put, for the most part he was a solid punter, and it’s hard to say too many negative things about him.

Now, Brooks isn’t going to add to the list of punters who make Rocky Top Punter U, at least not unless he returns for a fifth year, but he’s a solid punter. Him beating out Joe Doyle for the role in 2019 and never relinquishing that spot was a pretty impressive move.

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