Tennessee’s football program hasn’t experienced any transfers since the end of the 2020 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, but it looks like they may be about to lose their first player of the offseason.
Per Matt Zenitz of AL.com, Tennessee redshirt sophomore punter Joe Doyle has put his name in the NCAA transfer portal. Doyle was a Freshman All-American in 2018 as voted on by USA Today Sports.
Source: Tennessee punter Joe Doyle has entered the transfer portal.
Was the team’s full-time punter last year. Shared the punting duties this season.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 7, 2020
Doyle, who attended Farragut High School in Knoxville, played in all 12 of Tennessee’s games in 2018 as a redshirt freshman and led the SEC in punts with 65 on the year. His 23 punts inside the 20 yard line were tied for the second-most in the conference, and he averaged 41.1 yards per punt.
This year, Doyle split punting duties with sophomore Paxton Brooks. Doyle started the season as UT’s primary punter, getting off 21 punts in the Vols’ first seven games. But after an ineffective showing against Alabama and inconsistent play to start the year, Brooks took over punting duties and closed out the season as the Vols’ primary punter and kick-off specialist. Brooks finished with 30 punts for an average of 42 yards per punt, with 11 of his 30 punts being downed inside the 20.
For Doyle, this season was less efficient. Only six of his 21 punts were downed inside the 20 yard line, and he averaged 41.4 yards per punt.
Though Doyle’s name is currently in the portal, he can remove it at any time and return to the Vols if he so chooses. He can also contact other schools and look for a new program to join.
