By Garon Bach
As kickoff at Neyland comes closer with every passing day the focus on the Vols special teams unit was the highlighted group on Friday during Fall Camp. With second-year Special Teams Coordinator Evan Crabtree taking the podium, he shared his thoughts with the media.
“The return game is a priority around here,” Crabtree said. “We want to have the best guy out there that’s going to give us a chance to change the game, change the field position… And get a touchdown.”
Crabtree also hit on the core he has under his wing sharing, “You don’t have 10 to 12 specialists like the old days. You got to pick your best two or three [and value] combo guys that can do both punting and kicking.”
Appearing to be having oodles of fun together, the special teams’ members have been in the shadows of the other looming stories from camp. However, on Friday the opportunity to speak to some of the unit gave a clearer outlook for the group this year.
The Returning Three
Crabtree has a lot to look forward to with his group come September, thanks to the returning pieces of placekicker Josh Turbyville, long snapper Bennett Brady, and the dual-legged punter Jackson Ross.
PK Josh Turbyville
Josh Turbyville is a threat when it comes to his leg thanks to his ability to be able to do kickoffs, punt, and kick field goals proficiently. The fifth-year senior has made six PATs and one field goal when called upon throughout his career.
The Knoxville native averaged 63.2 yards per kickoff with 198 touchbacks last season, which earned him an All-SEC honor during the 2025 campaign.
LS Bennett Brady
For Bennett Brady, it’s a simple approach when he’s on the field:
“I try to think about [pressure] as I’m going back to something I’ve done probably hundreds of 1000’s of times,” he said.
A player who has seen playing time since 2023 and started in all 13 games last season, the fifth-year senior’s approach is rather simple, but makes sense as his mentor, Tennessee Titans’ Morgan Cox taught Brady a valuable lesson.
“If you’re not having the best day, shut it down,” Brady said. “Don’t oversnap it and create a bad habit. Just know that you’re here for a reason, and just keep trusting what got you here.”
P Jackson Ross
A 2025 Ray Guy Award semifinalist, the Australian is known for kicking with both legs. He spoke on the advantage today as he shared that it helps not have his punts blocked.
Focusing on improvement for an NFL-caliber punter seems near impossible but the fifth-year player shared that studying punt blocks from opponents during the offseason has helped him prepare for the Fall.
For Ross, he has been able to connect with freshman punter Logan Foley thanks to both of their connections to Australia. Ross commented on his view of Foley, as both Australians have had their fair share of growing pains in regard to learning the game.
“I think with Logan coming in, I see myself in him from when I first got here. He’s saying, “Why is this person going to block it?” And I’m like, “Well, that’s your responsibility, sort of thing. So, I feel like I’ve learnt the game in that sense, and it’s really helped me,” Ross said.
Overall the group’s tight-knit community has had open arms, especially with a new kicking talent from the transfer portal.
The New Leg On Campus
A new face jumps off the paper for the kicking position as Louisville transfer Cooper Ranvier was spoken highly of by Crabtree.
“He’s kind of that football player that kicks rather than just a kicker, and I think he enjoys that. That personality that he has with it and with that position. He has fun with it, [he is] super serious and takes it super seriously with his technique,” Crabtree noted.
In high school, Ranvier played both wide receiver and kicked but with Louisville last season, the Redshirt Sophomore earned Third Team All-ACC honors after tying a Cardinals record of 21 made kicks in a season and finished 21-of-25 on the year.
The Return Specialists
During Friday’s presser, Crabtree mentioned three names for return specialist: Senior DB Qua Moss, Sophomore RB Daune Morris, and Senior WR Ian Duarte. All three were noted as fast, agile players who have shown the skill in practice.
Moss and Duarte are both transfers coming in from Kansas State and Idaho State, respectively.
Moss returned punts during his time at West Georgia, and Duarte averaged over 20 yards per return last season for the Vandals on kick returns and over 10 yards per punt return. Morris returned kicks and punts late last season with a 44-yard-long kick return.
With still depth positions to figure out, the Volunteers will continue Fall Camp on Saturday as Josh Heupel’s squad will have its second scrimmage of camp. It will be an opportunity for the unfinalized positions to get answers before Tennessee’s first contest of the season against Furman Week 1.