BY THE NUMBERS
38.3: Evan Berry’s NCAA-leading kickoff-return average last season. San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny, who finished second in the country in the category, averaged nearly 5 fewer yards per return. 467: In addition to leading the nation in punt-return average, Cameron Sutton set a program record with 467 punt-return yards, breaking Bobby Majors’ mark of 457 in 1969. 6: Tennessee’s six special-teams touchdowns in 2015 set a program record. The Vols had two games with a kickoff-return and a punt-return score, which hadn’t been done since 1950. Berry returned kickoffs for touchdowns against Western Carolina, Arkansas and Kentucky, while Sutton (Kentucky and Vanderbilt) and Alvin Kamara (Western Carolina) combined for Tennessee’s three punt-return touchdowns – and Kamara had one wiped out by a penalty against Arkansas. 45.7: Tennessee had to replace Matt Darr, who punted for the Miami Dolphins as an NFL rookie, going into last season, but former walk-on Trevor Daniel quickly and thoroughly put any questions to rest. He averaged 45.7 yards per punt, ranking him second in the Southeastern Conference and eighth nationally. Of Daniel’s 60 punts, 22 were longer than 50 yards. 6-of-18: Kicker Aaron Medley’s career line on field-goal attempts of 40 or more yards.
STAR POWER
Butch Jones likes to point to the Auburn game during his first season as Tennessee’s coach in 2013 as the nadir for his program’s special teams. The Tigers returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns that day in a 32-point win in Knoxville. The speed chasm between the two teams was never more apparent than it was on special teams.
Two seasons later, the Volunteers were one of the nation’s best in that phase of the game.
Kickoff returner Evan Berry and punt returner Cameron Sutton led the nation in average return yardage, Trevor Daniel was one of the best punters in the Southeastern Conference and the Vols ranked 14th nationally in kickoff coverage.