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Tennessee football: Ranking position groups by 2022 spring practice play

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee defensive players perform drills during Tennessee football spring practice at University of Tennessee on Saturday, March 26, 2022.Kns Ut Spring Fball 5 0532
Tennessee defensive players perform drills during Tennessee football spring practice at University of Tennessee on Saturday, March 26, 2022.Kns Ut Spring Fball 5 0532 /
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Tennessee Football Punter/Place Kicker Paxton Brooks during Media Day in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, August 3, 2021.Kns Tennessee Football Media Day
Tennessee Football Punter/Place Kicker Paxton Brooks during Media Day in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, August 3, 2021.Kns Tennessee Football Media Day /

6. Special teams

In terms of the kicking game, the excitement was clear, and it should be. Tennessee football returns Paxton Brooks at punter and Chase McGrath at place kicker, both of whom decided to take advantage of the NCAA’s COVID eligibility ruling and come back for an extra senior season. Toby Wilson is sill there for kickoffs.

Outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler said all three guys handle their positions like “pros” in his press conference, a huge compliment. He referred to Brooks as “phenomenal,” and it’s clear that this portion of special teams is locked up.

The other portion, the return game, is a much bigger question, and it wasn’t answered in the spring. All-SEC return specialist Velus Jones Jr. has entered the pros, so the Vols have to find a new kickoff returner and punt returner. Ekeler made a joke about Mike Honcho taking over to play off Tony Vitello’s baseball joke in a separate interview.

That may have masked not finding a guy. Tennessee football has players like Jimmy Holiday, Trevon Flowers and Marquarius “Squirrel” White who seem able to fill the role, and Ekeler mentioned all of them in the spring. No standouts, though, could be a problem.

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