ATLANTA – Tennessee football sophomore offensive lineman Trey Smith collected preseason All-SEC First Team honors on Friday, the league announced following SEC Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame.
Smith was the nation’s top freshman offensive lineman in 2017, starting every game for the Vols and capturing FWAA Freshman All-American Team accolades in addition to All-SEC Second Team and All-Freshman honors by the coaches and media.
The versatile Jackson, Tenn., native earned playing time at right guard, left guard, left tackle and right tackle last fall. He became the first Vol true freshman to start at left tackle in over 30 years when he protected the blind side against Southern Miss on Nov. 4. Smith led the Vols with 55 knockdowns and finished as the SEC’s top-rated freshman offensive player according to Pro Football Focus College.
Smith missed the spring with a medical condition, but head coach Jeremy Pruitt said on Wednesday he would be back for the start of fall practice.
The Vols were predicted to finish sixth in the SEC East, but did receive one first-place vote. Georgia was picked to win the SEC East, while defending national champion Alabama was selected to win the SEC West and the overall conference championship.
The complete preseason All-SEC teams and predictions can be found at SECSports.com.
The Vols open the season at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 1 at the Belk College Kickoff against West Virginia in Charlotte, N.C., before hosting ETSU at 4 p.m. on Sept. 8 and UTEP at 12 p.m. on Sept. 15. Tennessee welcomes Florida on Sept. 22 (kickoff is TBD) to start SEC play.
Tennessee football single game tickets are on sale now for six of the seven home games at AllVols.com or by calling 1-800-332-VOLS.
