It’s been six years since a Tennessee player earned All American honors (Derek Barnett), but one publication has a pair of Vols on its preseason All American list.
Cedric Tillman was one Pick Six Previews Third Team All American receivers while Hendon Hooker was the Fourth Team All American quarterback.
Hooker and Tillman both had breakout seasons for the Vols a season ago.
Hooker had been an off-and-on starter at Virginia Tech before transferring to Tennessee and finding his groove. The dual-threat quarterback was one of the nation’s most efficient signal callers, completing 68% of his passes for 2,945 yards, 31 touchdowns and three interceptions.
The transfer also impressed with his legs, rushing for 620 yards and five touchdowns.
Tillman had just eight catches in three years in Knoxville before developing into one of the SEC’s best receivers in 2021. The Las Vegas native caught 64 passes for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns.
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Tennessee is one of 13 teams with multiple players on Pick Six Previews offensive All American teams including SEC foes Alabama (three), Georgia (two) and Texas A&M (two).
The Vols are unranked in the Preseason USA Today’s Coaches Poll after going 7-6 in Josh Heupel’s inaugural season as Tennessee’s head coach.
Tennessee plays four games against teams ranked in the preseason coaches poll: No. 1 Alabama, No. 3 Georgia, No. 16 Pittsburgh and No. 21 Kentucky.
