Editor’s note: This is the fourth story in a series previewing Tennessee football before spring practices begin Tuesday.
KNOXVILLE – Three of the most statistically productive special teams players in Tennessee football history are out of eligibility, leaving opportunities for new leaders to emerge in that phase of the game for the Volunteers when spring practices begin.
Paxton Brooks is a 6-foot-5 freshman punter from West Columbia, S.C., who has enrolled early in order to go through spring practices. He will have a chance to replace Trevor Daniel, who averaged a school-record 47.5 yards per punt as a senior in 2017. Competing with Brooks for the starting job will be sophomore walk-ons Joe Doyle and Grayson Linde.
Aaron Medley wrapped up his Vols kicking career last season, and he is second on the program’s all-time scoring list despite his struggles with accuracy on field-goal attempts of 40 yards or longer. Brent Cimaglia filled in when Medley battled sickness last season, and the freshman finished the year 8-of-13 on field-goal attempts.
Cimaglia will be the primary kicker during spring practices, but Michigan graduate transfer Ryan Tice will have a chance to compete later this year when he arrives in Knoxville with two years of eligibility remaining.