All for Tennessee
Fansided

Ranking Tennessee football’s position units for 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half of a game between Alabama and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.102420 Ut Bama Gameaction
Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half of a game between Alabama and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.102420 Ut Bama Gameaction /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 10
Next
Tennessee placekicker Chase McGrath (40) kicks the ball as Tennessee punter/placekicker Paxton Brooks (37) holds the ball during an SEC football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.Tennvskentucky1106 1428
Tennessee placekicker Chase McGrath (40) kicks the ball as Tennessee punter/placekicker Paxton Brooks (37) holds the ball during an SEC football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.Tennvskentucky1106 1428 /

4. Special teams

One side of Tennessee football’s special teams makes it the deadliest unit on the team. The other side is a major question. However, the former is the most important factor. We’re obviously talking about the kicking game, and the Vols have that locked up with their snapper, holder, place kicker, punter and kickoff specialist.

Paxton Brooks is the star of this group. He was a preseason All-SEC punter and on the Ray Guy Award Watch List. However, Chase McGrath was perfect on extra points and missed just one field goal within 40 yards last year, not missing any within 30, so he’s everything you could ask for in a college kicker.

Toby Wilson was elite handling kickoff duties last year, but Brooks is actually better and should take it over now that he’s once again fully healthy. Brooks is also a trustworthy holder on field goals. Matthew Salansky, meanwhile, is an elite long snapper, and yes, that’s a major part of having a successful kicking game.

Anyway, beyond kickoffs, the return game holds this back. Velus Jones Jr. was an All-SEC return specialist, and he’s gone. Jimmy Holiday showed he could handle kickoffs last year, and Squirrel White is on the roster, so that should be fine, but Trevon Flowers is the only proven punt returner, and he struggled there last year. This is where Mike Ekeler needs to put his focus.

Home/Vols Football