So far, here’s where the Vols’ units have ranked in the SEC heading into the 2020 season:
- Quarterbacks, No. 4
- Running backs, No. 4
- Wide receivers, No. 10
- Offensive line, No. 2
- Defensive line, No. 2
- Linebackers, No. 8
- Defensive backs, No. 4
Today, we’ll look at special teams.
2020 SEC Special Teams Rankings
The Tigers must replace kick returner Clyde Edwards-Helaire, but they return their key guys at the other special teams spots, including kicker Cade York, who hit 78% of his 27 field goal attempts, punter Zach Von Rosenberg, and punt returner Derek Stingley. Plus, LSU’s recruiting of the skill positions that generally serve as the pool of available contributors returning punts and kicks (running backs, wide receivers, and defensive backs) ranks fourth in the conference again this year. | |||||
1 | Returning Production | Skill Position Recruiting Ranking | |||
FGs | PR Yards | Punt Yards | KOR Yards | ||
21 | 251 | 2013 | 77 | 4 |
Returning Production | Skill Position Recruiting Ranking | The Aggies lose punter Braden Mann but return placekicker Seth Small and chief punt and kick return specialist Ainias Smith. | ||||
FGs | PR Yards | Punt Yards | KOR Yards | |||
2 | 18 | 190 | 57 | 360 | 5 | |
Returning Production | Skill Position Recruiting Ranking | Like the Aggies, the Tigers lose their punter, but return kicker Anders Carlson and kick and punt returner Christian Tutt. | ||||
FGs | PR Yards | Punt Yards | KOR Yards | |||
3 | 18 | 313 | 112 | 111 | 2 | |
Returning Production | Skill Position Recruiting Ranking | The return of phenomenal punt and kick returner Jaylen Waddle puts the Tide at No. 4 almost all by himself. | ||||
FGs | PR Yards | Punt Yards | KOR Yards | |||
4 | 12 | 534 | 1063 | 234 | 3 |
Rank | Team | Returning Production | Skill Position Recruiting Ranking | |||
FGs | PR Yards | Punt Yards | KOR Yards | |||
5 | Tennessee | 23 | 36 | 1260 | 253 | 7 |
6 | Mississippi | 11 | 91 | 2524 | 404 | 8 |
7 | Arkansas | 0 | 160 | 2320 | 627 | 12 |
8 | South Carolina | 18 | 21 | 0 | 414 | 9 |
9 | Kentucky | 9 | 90 | 2358 | 217 | 10 |
10 | Georgia | 0 | 139 | 2857 | 103 | 1 |
11 | Vanderbilt | 1 | 13 | 3313 | 116 | 14 |
12 | Mississippi State | 9 | 0 | 2256 | 97 | 11 |
13 | Florida | 17 | 12 | 0 | 21 | 6 |
14 | Missouri | 0 | 16 | 0 | 160 | 13 |
Additional comments
The Vols show up at No. 4 on this list thanks mostly to the return of their kickers. Brent Cimaglia made 85.2% of his field goal attempts last year and has never missed an extra point in 69 attempts. The guy is an excellent 77.4% over his three-year career so far and is improving every year. He has a chance to finish his Tennessee career with the best percentage in program history. Punter Paxton Brooks also returns after having averaged 42 yards per punt last season.
The return game is in a bit of a state of flux. Ty Chandler is back to return kicks, for whatever that’s worth in this age of fair catches on kickoffs, but the team will be looking for a full-time replacement for Marquez Callaway to return punts. I’m feeling pretty good about it being Eric Gray and him doing well with it.
Your thoughts
What do y’all think? Where did we get it right? Where are we wrong?
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I pretty much agree with your rankings. Although I don’t think there is another kicker in the sec that means as much to his team as cimaglia does. One of my favorite kickers to root for in the past few decades
Yeah, I love the dude. Have you listened to his episode on UT’s The Slice podcast?