Vols Notebook: Butch Jones explains use of Aaron Medley and Brent Cimaglia at kicker

Tennessee kicker Brent Cimaglia celebrates with coach Butch Jones and teammates after he kicked a 51-yard field goal during the first half of this past Saturday's 26-20 loss at Florida. Cimaglia, who is a freshman, and senior Aaron Medley both had field-goal attempts in the game.
Tennessee kicker Brent Cimaglia celebrates with coach Butch Jones and teammates after he kicked a 51-yard field goal during the first half of this past Saturday's 26-20 loss at Florida. Cimaglia, who is a freshman, and senior Aaron Medley both had field-goal attempts in the game.

KNOXVILLE - On Wednesday, Tennessee football coach Butch Jones delved into his mindset behind playing two kickers, explaining he thinks the competition between senior Aaron Medley and freshman Brent Cimaglia has helped both.

The Volunteers attempted their first field goal of the season in last week's 26-20 loss at Florida and attempted five of them over the course of the game.

Cimaglia went 1-for-3 with misses from 51 and 47 yards and a make from 51. Medley went 1-for-2 with a 44-yard miss and a 27-yard make.

Though both are often seen warming up on the sideline before a potential field goal, Jones said he comes to both before games and tries to give them a "well-articulated job description" of what their duties will be during the game.

"Every time we're getting in scoring range, I want them to have the mentality that they're kicking," Jones said. "You know, with negative yardage plays or big-chunk plays, that can change."

Medley has attempted and made all of Tennessee's extra points this year and appears to be the Vols' go-to kicker for short-to-mid-length tries. Cimaglia's long attempts at Florida indicated he has proven himself on longer attempts in practice.

"It's a body of work throughout August and September, but also through your consistency in practice every single day," Jones said. "You're earning the trust of your teammates, you're earning the trust of your coaches by the way you produce in practice, which obviously leads to being successful on game day.

"We ask everyone else in our football program to compete, and the kickers are no different."

Next for TK?

There is still a chance senior safety Todd Kelly Jr. could either play in a bowl game this season or receive a medical redshirt and come back next year, Jones said Wednesday. Kelly, who did not play against Florida, is receiving medical opinions about a lingering knee injury.

"We're taking it one step at a time," Jones said. "But Todd and I have spoke a lot. Obviously, we would welcome him back with open arms to our football program. He's meant so much to us, not just on the field and everything he's been able to do, but also off the field. He's been a great representative of Tennessee football."

On Tuesday, defensive coordinator Bob Shoop said Kelly "embodies all that is good about college football."

"I think the world of Todd," Shoop added, "and hope for a speedy recovery for him and that he is either back playing next year or in medical school somewhere doing really well."

Injury updates

Jones said Tennessee expects to be without safety/kick returner Evan Berry, linebacker Austin Smith and receiver Latrell Williams on Saturday. Smith has yet to play this year, Berry hasn't played since getting injured in the season opener and Williams has missed the past two games.

That's in addition to previously announced long-term injuries to offensive tackle Chance Hall, receiver Jauan Jennings, linebackers Darrin Kirkland Jr. and Cortez McDowell, plus Kelly.

Sophomore defensive back Baylen Buchanan, who missed the past two games, is expected back Saturday, Jones said.

Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com.

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