A pair of Tennessee special teamers have been named to preseason watchlist.
Senior punter Paxton Brooks is one of 51 preseason candidates named to the watchlist for the Ray Guy Award while senior kicker Chase McGrath is among 30 on the preseason watchlist for the Lou Groza award.
Brooks has appeared in 35 games for the Vols, averaging 42.9 yards per punt for his career with 19 traveling 50-plus yards and 29 being placed inside the 20.
The Ray Guy Award is presented annually to the nation’s top punter. It honors Hall of Famer Ray Guy who was an All-American punter at Southern Miss before a 14-year career with the Oakland Raiders.
McGrath, a graduate transfer from the University of Southern California, was a three-year starter for the Trojans, appearing in 30 games while connecting on 32-of-42 field goal attempts (76.2 percent) during his career, including a career-long make of 52 yards (2019). McGrath was also 118-of-119 in point after attempts and enters this season having made 70 in a row.
The Lou Groza Award honors the top place-kicker in college football each season and is named for National Football League Hall of Fame kicker Lou “The Toe” Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Brown
