Tennessee’s specialists unit will be ‘very competitive in each position’

Tennessee’s specialists unit will be very competitive in each position.

KNOXVILLE — Brent Cimaglia returns for his senior season at Tennessee.

Cimaglia has appeared in 29 games for the Vols, totaling 129 points in his career and connecting on 41 field goals and 69 extra points.

Tennessee’s special teams unit provides quality depth with redshirt junior punter Joe Doyle electing to return after entering the transfer portal in January. The unit adds redshirt senior punter and holder Brett Graham. Graham is a graduate transfer from UConn.

KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 03, 2020 – Punter Paxton Brooks #37 of the Tennessee Volunteers during 2020 Fall Camp practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

Junior punter and kicker Paxton Brooks also returns after appearing in 25 contests over the last two seasons for Tennessee.

“I think overall the specialist unit, it’s going to be a good year for us,” Cimaglia told reporters on a Zoom call Friday. “We have Paxton Brooks returning – he’s a great punter and kick off specialist. We have Joe who brings a good morale to the group. We also have Brett Graham that transferred in and he’s a good character to have.

“It’s going to be very competitive in each position, even with long snappers. We’re all kind of an older bunch, but with the long snappers, there are a bunch of young guys stepping in and I’m very confident that they’re going to get their job done. I’m excited to what this unit holds for us.”

Freshman long snapper Will Albright joins the Vols’ program after signing with Tennessee in the 2020 recruiting class. Sophomore Matthew Salansky rounds out the long snapper group as a walk-on.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire