Tennessee fifth-year senior kicker Chase McGrath, who stayed quite busy this past season, has decided to return to the Volunteers.
The 6-foot, 195-pound graduate transfer from Southern California will use the NCAA's extra year of eligibility that was implemented at the outbreak of the coronavirus. McGrath led the Vols in scoring with 102 points, connecting on 12 of 16 field-goal attempts and making all 66 extra-point tries.
McGrath's 66 extra points set a single-season program record, as did Tennessee's 511 points that were tallied throughout a 7-6 season that ended with a 48-45 overtime loss to Purdue in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30. He made eight extra points during the 60-14 drubbing of South Alabama on Nov. 20 and connected on seven in the 56-0 blanking of Tennessee Tech on Sept. 18.
His biggest field goal wound up being the 43-yarder at the halftime horn for a 24-21 lead in Tennessee's eventual 45-42 triumph at Kentucky on Nov. 6.
McGrath, whose decision to return was first reported by the Knoxville News-Sentinel, is from Newport Beach, California, and played at Mater Dei High School before moving on to USC. He made 32 of 42 field-goal attempts with the Trojans and 118 of 119 extra points before graduating in December 2020.
He announced his commitment to Tennessee last February.
The Vols are also adding former University of Central Florida tight end Charlie Browder as a preferred walk-on. The 6-7, 280-pounder from Kingsport, Tennessee, enrolled at UCF last January and played in four games for Gus Malzahn's Knights this past season but did not record a catch.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.