KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee had eight players earn recognition on Phil Steele’s postseason All-SEC teams, led by redshirt senior wide receiver and return specialist Velus Jones Jr., who was also named a third-team All-American by Steele as a punt returner.
On top of garnering All-America honors, Jones was also a first-team All-SEC selection as a kick returner, a second-team pick as a punt returner and a third-team selection as a wide receiver.
Joining Jones on Steele’s All-SEC teams were Cedric Tillman, Theo Jackson, Cade Mays, Hendon Hooker, Alontae Taylor, Byron Young and Paxton Brooks.
WR/RS Velus Jones Jr. (1st Team – KR // 2nd Team – PR // 3rd Team – WR)
Jones’ latest accolades add to an impressive list of postseason honors for the Alabama native. He recently earned first-team All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches and Associated Press as an all-purpose player and return specialist and was named the SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Year, just the second Vol to ever earn that distinction. He was also named a Reese’s Senior Bowl All-American punt returner.
Jones has been one of Tennessee’s top weapons on offense and in the return game this season. The Saraland, Alabama, native 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.
Jones has had a career year on the offensive side of the ball, setting career highs in receptions (52), receiving yards (722) and touchdown catches (six), all of which rank second on the team and top 12 in the SEC. A dynamic return man as well, Jones leads the SEC in punt return average (16.0) and ranks second in kickoff return average (28.1).
WR Cedric Tillman (2nd Team – WR)
Tillman received All-SEC recognition for the first time, earning a spot on Steele’s second team after a breakout season for the Vols. The big-bodied wideout led UT and set career highs in receptions (57), receiving yards (931) and touchdown catches (9). Tillman needs just 69 yards to become Tennessee’s first 1,000-yard receiver since Justin Hunter in 2012.
The redshirt junior ranks second in the FBS with 535 receiving yards (107.0/game) against current AP Top 25 opponents. Tillman has posted 100-plus receiving yards in four of his last five games and has a touchdown catch in each of his last six games entering the Vols’ showdown against Purdue in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl on Dec. 30. The Las Vegas native is the first Vol with a receiving touchdown in six-straight games since Joey Kent in 1995.
DB Theo Jackson (3rd Team – S)
Jackson earned All-SEC honors for the second time this year after receiving second-team recognition at defensive back from the league’s coaches. The Nashville native turned in the best season of his collegiate career, leading all SEC defensive backs with a career-high nine tackles for loss while ranking third in the league with 12 passes defended, which was also a career high. Jackson set career bests in tackles (73) and sacks (1.5), as well.
The super senior capped the regular season with his first-career pick six, intercepting a first-quarter pass against Vanderbilt and returning it 55 yards for a touchdown to open the scoring in a 45-21 Tennessee victory on Senior Day.
OL Cade Mays (3rd Team – OT)
Mays earned All-SEC honors for the third time this season after garnering second-team recognition from the coaches and AP. The Knoxville native was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week twice this season following standout performances in wins at Missouri and Kentucky.
The senior helped anchor the Vols’ offensive line as the team’s starting right tackle. According to PFF.com, Mays was the Vols’ highest-graded offensive lineman this season and allowed just one sack and five pressures in 493 offensive snaps played.
QB Hendon Hooker (4th Team – QB)
Hooker was spectacular in his first season in Knoxville. He completed 180-of-261 passes for 2,567 yards and 26 touchdowns to only three interceptions. He also rushed for 561 yards on 148 attempts with five scores.
A semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award, he ranked third in the FBS and was tops in the SEC in passer efficiency rating at 182.16. Hooker shattered Tennessee single-season records for completion percentage (69.0) and passer efficiency. He averaged 9.8 yards per passing attempt, which ranked third nationally. Of the 19 FBS players who threw 25 or more touchdowns this season, no one had fewer interceptions than Hooker (3).
The Greensboro, North Carolina, native enters the bowl game having thrown at least one touchdown pass in 11 straight contests, which is tied for fourth in UT annals. He is one of only six FBS players this season with at least 25 passing touchdowns and five rushing touchdowns, joining Pitt Heisman Trophy finalist Kenny Pickett, Wake Forest’s Sam Hartman, Virginia’s Brennan Armstrong, Cincinnati’s Desmond Ritter and UTSA’s Frank Harris.
Hooker was the leader of a Vol offense that ranked in the top 25 nationally in total offense (459.0 – 16th), scoring offense (38.8 – ninth), rushing offense (212.0 – 19th), first down offense (23.8 – 19th) and third down efficiency (46.2 – 13th).
DB Alontae Taylor (4th Team – CB)
Taylor capped his collegiate career with his best season to date, setting career highs in tackles (60), interceptions (2) and passes defended (8). The Manchester, Tennessee, native started all 12 games at corner and finished fifth on the team in tackles, second in interceptions and second in passes defended.
Taylor’s 56-yard pick six in the third quarter at No. 18 Kentucky played a major part in the Vols’ upset victory on the road. Taylor has accepted an invite to play in the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama on Feb. 5.
DL Byron Young (4th Team – DE)
After having to sit out the first two games of the season, Young improved throughout the year and emerged as the team’s top pass rusher by season’s end. The junior edge rusher finished the regular season with a team-high 5.5 sacks and eight quarterback hurries. He is also tied for the team lead with nine tackles for loss. Young has recorded at least one sack in four of Tennessee’s last five contests entering the bowl game.
P Paxton Brooks (4th Team – P)
Brooks earned All-SEC fourth-team honors from Steele for the second consecutive year after ranking third in the conference in punting average (44.2 yards/punt). The South Carolina native had 11 punts of 50 or more yards, including a career-long 64-yard boot in the season opener against Bowling Green. Brooks also landed 15 of his punts inside the opponents 20-yard line.
Bowl Game & 2022 Season Ticket Info
Tennessee will conclude its 2021 campaign with a trip to Nashville for the TransPerfect Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 at Nissan Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. ET and tickets can be purchased by visiting the Music City Bowl’s website or by clicking HERE.
Existing season ticket holders can renew their tickets for the 2022 season now by visiting AllVols.com. Fans wishing to purchase new season tickets for the 2022 season can submit a request by clicking HERE.
2021 Tennessee Postseason Honors
P Paxton Brooks
CoSIDA Academic All-American – First Team
CoSIDA Academic All-District III – First Team
Phil Steele All-SEC – Fourth Team (Punter)
DL Matthew Butler
East-West Shrine Bowl Invitee
CoSIDA Academic All-American – Second Team
CoSIDA Academic All-District III – First Team
QB Hendon Hooker
Phil Steele All-SEC – Fourth Team (Quarterback)
DB Theo Jackson
Coaches All-SEC – Second Team (Defensive Back)
Phil Steele All-SEC – Fourth Team (Safety)
WR/RS Velus Jones Jr.
Phil Steele All-American – Third Team (Punt Returner)
SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Year
Coaches All-SEC – First Team (All-Purpose, Return Specialist)
AP All-SEC – First Team (All-Purpose)
Phil Steele All-SEC – First Team (Kick Returner), Second Team (Punt Returner), Third Team (Wide Receiver)
Reese’s Senior Bowl All-American (Punt Returner)
Reese’s Senior Bowl Invitee
OL Cade Mays
Coaches All-SEC – Second Team (Offensive Line)
AP All-SEC – Second Team (Offensive Line)
Phil Steele All-SEC – Third Team (Offensive Tackle)
DB Alontae Taylor
Phil Steele All-SEC – Fourth Team (Corner Back)
Reese’s Senior Bowl Invitee
WR Cedric Tillman
Phil Steele All-SEC – Second Team (Wide Receiver)
DL Byron Young
Phil Steele All-SEC – Fourth Team (Defensive End)
-UT Athletics
