Josh Heupel details why Theo Jackson, Trevon Flowers will handle punt returns
Tennessee kicks off its 2021 season Thursday against Bowling Green at Neyland Stadium under first-year head coach Josh Heupel.
Ahead of the season-opening game, Tennessee released its depth chart.
Super senior Theo Jackson has been named Tennessee’s starting punt returner. Senior Trevon Flowers is listed as second-team punt returner.
Jackson and Flowers have not recorded any statistics for punt returns while at Tennessee.
Heupel took part in Wednesday’s Southeastern Conference teleconference and discussed Jackson and Flowers being on Tennessee’s two-deep roster as punt returners.
“In the building, their sense of who they are as competitors, their accountability, and who they are every day, and how they interact with their teammates,” Heupel said of Jackson and Flowers. “There’s a great sense of trust in those guys to begin with, outside of the football side of it.
“Ever since we’ve gotten here and been on the field, those guys have been taking reps at the return spot. They’re extremely natural catching the ball, tracking the football. They’re really good decision-makers on those in-between balls — do I get it or do I pull off of it.”
