Tennessee will be in need of a new punter in 2018 after Trevor Daniel graduates after the 2017 season. And the Vols hope they found his replacement in the 2018 recruiting class with one of the best punters in the country.
Paxton Brooks announced his commitment to the Vols on Twitter on Thursday night. Brooks is rated as the No. 2 punter in the country by the Kohl’s specialist camps ratings.
I’m proud to say that I have received a full scholarship to the University of Tennessee and have decided that I’m 100% committed! #GoVols?? pic.twitter.com/HoSfE2ArLl
— Paxton Brooks (@paxbrooks) August 18, 2017
Brooks plays for Airport High School in Columbia, South Carolina and also has offers from North Carolina State and Wake Forest. Kohl’s sponsors several specialists camps and rates kickers and punters more extensively than most recruiting sites do, and their assessment has him listed as a five-star punter and the 2nd-best punter in the country.
Here’s what the Kohl’s assessment of Brooks has to say:
Brooks recently attended the 2017 National Scholarship Camp. He repeatedly hit 50-60 yard blasts and he built upon his dominant performance at the Southern Showcase Camp in May. Brooks again was a dominant punter and performer. His long frame makes him an attractive prospect as a D1 punter. Brooks’ FG’s and KO’s show flashes of big potential as well. His strength is in his punting. Brooks earned the 2nd spot to the Under Armour All-American Game by winning the punt off against the top players at this national event. He has all the tools to become a great college P/KO specialist!
At 6-foot-5, 175 pounds, Brooks has the frame that should translate well to be a specialist at the collegiate level. Adding some more weight wouldn’t hurt, but he has that tall and strong frame wanted for a punter or kicker at the next level.
Brooks’ highlight film shows off his incredibly strong leg. Several of his kickoffs go out of the back of the end zone, and he booms 50 and 60-yard punts more than once.
The Vols now have 21 known commitments in their 2018 class, and Brooks is their first from a kicker or punter. Tennessee needs a punter to take over for next season, and Brooks could certainly be that player.
