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Gameday Today: Preseason All-SEC, and pinning our hopes on Charlton Warren

In today’s link roundup, we take a closer look at the four Vols on the preseason Coaches All-SEC Team, pin our hopes on Charlton Warren, hope that Josh Smith is back for Florida, and more.

Vols on the preseason Coaches All-SEC Team

Four Tennessee players were named to the preseason Coaches All-SEC Team yesterday. Kick returner Evan Berry made second team, and offensive lineman Jashon Robertson, wide receiver Jajuan Jennings, and punter Trevor Daniel all made third team. Of course, a preseason All-SEC team is really not much more than a rehash of last year’s All-SEC team for the players who are still around, but it’s still nice to see your guys’ names on the list. What matters more, though, is who’s on that list at the end of the season.

Berry, by the way, shares the credit for his success returning kicks with his blockers:

“If you go back and look at the film, you really will see that I’m just running. But Micah Abernathy, my off-returner, and Tyler Byrd — they both give key blocks, as well as the front line.”

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have a guy who can fly with the ball in his hands, either.

And somehow, Trevor Daniel’s story is still under-stated. Heading into his senior year, he is already surrounded on all sides by Colquitts in the Tennessee record books. If he does again this season what he’s been doing the past couple of seasons, the former walk-on will finish his career ahead of all of them.

Another reason to believe the defense will improve this season

Public Service Announcement: New defensive backs coach Charlton Warren played a major role in the nation’s best defensive turnaround in 2015 for the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Heels defense allowed 14.5 fewer points that season than they had the year before, and his secondary was the most improved in the nation in pass efficiency and yards-per-pass attempt. Oh, and they led the ACC in interceptions, turnovers gained, and passes defended.

Here’s to hoping he can do something similar for the Vols this fall.

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