Tennessee Athletics
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – With kickoff for the 2022 season just over a week out, the Preseason Coaches All-SEC Team was released on Tuesday afternoon with eight Volunteers on the charts.
Two Vols earned first team acclaim in the form of wide receiver Cedric Tillman and defensive lineman/linebacker Byron Young. Tillman leads the conference in returning production at wide receiver, amassing 1,081 yards on 64 receptions and 12 touchdowns a season ago. Young is poised to build on a strong finish to the season last year where he logged 5.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. He posted a TFL in eight of the team’s last nine games and recorded a multi-sack effort in the win at Kentucky.
On the second team is quarterback Hendon Hooker and offensive lineman Darnell Wright. Hooker has had a strong offseason after a breakout year in 2021 where he broke single-season program records for completion percentage (68.0) and passer efficiency rating (181.4). Hooker accumulated 3,561 yards of total offense and 36 total touchdowns during the 2021 campaign. Protecting him up front is Wright who enters his senior season at UT having three years of starting experience under his belt. Wright had the highest snap-count on the team a season ago, logging 922 plays on the offensive line.
Rounding out the Tennessee selections on the third team are running back Jabari Small, linebacker Jeremy Banks, defensive back Trevon Flowers and punter Paxton Brooks. All four provide a wealth of knowledge, leadership and experience for the Vols, entering the 2022 year. Banks, a redshirt-senior, is coming off a 20-tackle performance in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl, while seniors Flowers and Brooks are hoping to continue the solid, dependable production that they have been known for in their time on Rocky Top. Small, UT’s top returning rusher, is the leader of the young running back room and has worked at getting himself physically prepared for the season, while ensuring that he will be healthy enough to take the next step forward in his development and level of play.
The complete preseason coaches All-SEC teams can be found HERE.
The Volunteers open their 2022 season under the lights at Neyland Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 1 against Ball State. The game will be broadcast nationally on the SEC Network and tickets for the contest can be purchased HERE.
2022 Tennessee Football Preseason Honors
R-Sr. LB Jeremy Banks
Butkus Award Watch List
Lott Trophy Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Coaches)
All-SEC Third Team (Media)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
Jr. DL Tyler Baron
All-SEC Third Team (Athlon)
Sr. P Paxton Brooks
Ray Guy Award Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Athlon, Coaches, Media, Phil Steele)
Sr. OL Jerome Carvin
All-SEC Third Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
Sr. DB Trevon Flowers
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
R-Sr. QB Hendon Hooker
Manning Award Watch List
Davey O’Brien Award Watch List
Maxwell Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Coaches, Media, Phil Steele)
Jr. OL Cooper Mays
All-SEC Third Team (Media)
Jr. RB Jabari Small
Doak Walker Award Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Phil Steele)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
R-Sr. WR Cedric Tillman
Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
Maxwell Award Watch List
Third-Team All-American (Athlon, Phil Steele)
All-SEC First Team (Athlon, Coaches, Phil Steele)
All-SEC Second Team (Media)
R-Sr. TE Jacob Warren
John Mackey Award Watch List
Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
Sr. OL Darnell Wright
All-SEC Second Team (Coaches, Media)
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
Sr. DL/LB Byron Young
All-SEC First Team (Athlon, Coaches, Media)
All-SEC Second Team (Phil Steele)