Kicking game has proven focal players
KNOXVILLE — The Times Free Press is taking a daily positional look at the 2019 Tennessee football team, leading up to the first official practice Friday afternoon. We’ve profiled every position group on the offense and defense, and we’ll end things today with the special teams unit:
Who’s back
Brent Cimaglia has been the Volunteers’ most reliable source of scoring during his career, which speaks to his consistency on field goals (16-of-26, including a 51-yarder) but also the struggles of the offense during his time. Last year as a sophomore he was 10-for-13 with only one miss coming inside of 40 yards. He made four of six attempts beyond 40 yards after making only two kicks in seven tries from that distance as a freshman. The punting was solid, as Joe Doyle earned Freshman All-America honors at 41.1 yards per punt with 23 downed inside the 20-yard line. He also had 12 punts of 50 yards or more while allowing only eight returns for 15 yards — the fewest by a full-time punter in the Southeastern Conference in 2018. The return game also is solid, led by preseason AllSEC return specialist Marquez Callaway, who had an 82-yard punt return for a touchdown against Charlotte. A number of players are capable of returning kicks along with Callaway, as Ty Chandler, Bryce Thompson, Nigel Warrior and Shawn Shamburger all did so at some point in 2018. The problem is none were spectacular, although Warrior did have a 41-yard return and Thompson had one for 35. Paxton Brooks handled kickoffs.
Who’s new
Although there isn’t much information yet about plans for them, incoming freshmen Eric Gray and Ramel Keyton seem to be the sort of athletes who could be capable of returning kicks if needed. Gray had a punt return for a touchdown in high school.
Strengths
Of the Vols’ three units, special teams appears to be the most stable. Cimaglia, Doyle and Brooks provide a level of consistency in the kicking game, while Callaway could be a game-breaker in the return game. Tennessee also blocked three kicks a year ago — two punts and a field goal — one of which was returned for a touchdown by the now-departed Marquil Osborne, so there’s a chance for some playmaking there.
Weaknesses
This unit probably has the fewest questions. Can Cimaglia and Doyle build on solid first seasons as full-time starters? Can the kickoff return team help the offense with field position?
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.