One of Tennessee football’s most secretive position battles during the offseason was at kicker. The Vols lost Charles Campbell to graduation and didn’t replace him in the transfer portal, leaving three returning kickers to compete for the starting job this offseason.
Max Gilbert. Josh Turbyville and JT Carver were the only three returning kickers on Tennessee’s roster and while Turbyville was the kick off specialist last season, none of the three had any meaningful experience kicking field goals in games.
Tennessee doesn’t allow the media to watch its specialists at practice and Josh Heupel didn’t tip his hand as to who was ahead in the battle until Max Gilbert came out to kick the first extra point of the season.
“I feel really good with him. Really strong leg,” Heupel said of why Gilbert won the job on Monday. “I like his competitive makeup. Very confident, comfortable no matter what situation that we’ve put him in. Obviously game day’s a different deal, but really solid. So he’s got a smooth swing. He’s consistent and (we) trust him.”
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Gilbert impressed in his season debut, making all five point after attempts and a pair of field goals. He connected on a field goal from 36 yards in the first half and from 42 yards in the second half.
The redshirt freshman showed off his leg strength on both field goals and especially on the 42-yard field goal. Tennessee didn’t have nets up behind the uprights and Gilbert’s kick landed fully above the tunnel and into the stands in the north end zone.
It was a strong debut for Gilbert and his performance will be worth following over the course of the season. Tennessee has lived in the transfer portal at kicker under Heupel but Gilbert still has four years of eligibility remaining. If he proves to be the reliable kicker that Tennessee believes he is then the Vols will be set at kicker for a while.
Gilbert will look to continue his strong start to the season on Saturday when the Vols travel to Charlotte to face North Carolina State in the Duke’s Mayo Classic.
