Velus Jones has been named the SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Year.
From Tennessee's press release:
"Jones becomes just the second UT player to be named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year in program history, joining Evan Berry, who won it in 2015.
Jones, who shared this year's award with Alabama's Jameson Williams, was named to the Coaches All-SEC first team as an all-purpose player and a return specialist on Tuesday. He is just the second Vol to earn All-SEC first-team accolades since 2016, joining VFL and current starter for the Kansas City Chiefs, Trey Smith (2019 & 2020).
The Saraland, Alabama, native has been one of Tennessee's top weapons on offense and in the return game this season. Jones is the only player in the nation with 700-plus receiving yards (722), 500-plus kickoff return yards (506) and 200-plus punt return yards (272). He ranks third in the SEC in all-purpose yards, averaging 126.3 per game.
A dynamic return man, Jones leads the SEC in punt return average (16.0) and ranks second in kickoff return average (28.1). His 2,851 career kickoff return yards lead all active FBS players. The redshirt senior was named the SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week after recording his second-career kickoff return for a touchdown in a 60-14 win against South Alabama on Nov. 20, weaving through defenders and breaking tackles on his way to a 96-yard house call.
A week later, Jones nearly added a punt return touchdown to his name with a career-long 50-yard return in the first quarter of Tennessee's 45-21 victory over Vanderbilt on Senior Day. For the year, Jones has 22 total returns (kickoff & punt) of 20 or more yards, including seven of 30-plus yards and three of 40-plus yards."
From Tennessee's press release:
"Jones becomes just the second UT player to be named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year in program history, joining Evan Berry, who won it in 2015.
Jones, who shared this year's award with Alabama's Jameson Williams, was named to the Coaches All-SEC first team as an all-purpose player and a return specialist on Tuesday. He is just the second Vol to earn All-SEC first-team accolades since 2016, joining VFL and current starter for the Kansas City Chiefs, Trey Smith (2019 & 2020).
The Saraland, Alabama, native has been one of Tennessee's top weapons on offense and in the return game this season. Jones is the only player in the nation with 700-plus receiving yards (722), 500-plus kickoff return yards (506) and 200-plus punt return yards (272). He ranks third in the SEC in all-purpose yards, averaging 126.3 per game.
A dynamic return man, Jones leads the SEC in punt return average (16.0) and ranks second in kickoff return average (28.1). His 2,851 career kickoff return yards lead all active FBS players. The redshirt senior was named the SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week after recording his second-career kickoff return for a touchdown in a 60-14 win against South Alabama on Nov. 20, weaving through defenders and breaking tackles on his way to a 96-yard house call.
A week later, Jones nearly added a punt return touchdown to his name with a career-long 50-yard return in the first quarter of Tennessee's 45-21 victory over Vanderbilt on Senior Day. For the year, Jones has 22 total returns (kickoff & punt) of 20 or more yards, including seven of 30-plus yards and three of 40-plus yards."
