Ekeler guarantees that the Vols will be even better on the special teams

There are numerous coaches in college football who have shown disdain when it comes to high preseason expectations.

Mike Ekeler refines them.

Tennessee's special teams coordinator for the past four years has been in charge of the specialists, return specialists and coverage units that are often overlooked by their offensive and defensive counterparts on many Saturdays but give the Volunteers the “hidden yards” they crave. Ekeler was quick to bring this up in a heated, eight-minute press conference after practice on Saturday.

“The last three years we've given up 23 yards on punt returns and now we're close to 900,” he said. “Our guys take a lot of pride in that and it's going to be no different this year. That's going to be our best unit, period.”

Ekeler made a similar statement last spring and was asked Saturday why he believes this “could be Tennessee's best year in the third phase of football.”

“I didn't say that. I said it was going to be like that,” he replied. “Look, we're in year four and our guys know what we're asking of them. Every year we push ourselves to the limit to get better. They understand that their skills are all they have. Your knowledge and technique – you either have it or you don't.”

“If you're in the NFL and you don't have it, they tap you on the shoulder and tell you to take your playbook to the head coach. These guys would like to keep their playbook, and we talk to them on that front.”

Ekeler did not reveal who will be first in line to return kickoffs or punts in the opening game on August 31 against the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga.

He said receiver Squirrel White, running back Cameron Seldon, cornerback Jermod McCoy and defensive back Boo Carter, the freshman from Bradley Central, were vying for punt return duties, and Ekeler added that with the signing of running back DeSean Bishop, it was “largely the same group” for kickoff return.

“We have some dynamic guys with the ball in their hands,” said Ekeler.

Ekeler continued to praise punter Jackson Ross, the redshirt sophomore from Australia, and was also impressed with kickers Max Gilbert, Josh Turbyville and JT Carver. The kickers are all from Tennessee, Gilbert from Memphis, Turbyville from Knoxville and Carver from Martin.

Tennessee’s two best long snappers also come from the state: Matthew Salansky from Morristown and Bennett Brady from Memphis.

“We have three kickers that could play pretty much anywhere in the country,” Ekeler said. “We have NFL specialists and we have two snappers, Salansky and Bennett, who are ready to play in the NFL.”

Indeed, these are high expectations, no matter who holds which role.

Contact David Paschall at [email protected].