Tennessee football star Trey Smith among amazing field ‘VolScars’ winners
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s most decorated football player hasn’t played a full-contact snap this spring, but he was honored Monday as the Vols “Rookie of the Year” men’s athlete at the 12th annual “VolScars”.
#Volscars | ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
• Freshman All-American
• Only Vol OL to start all 12 games
• 1st true freshman to start at left tackle in more than 30 years pic.twitter.com/ydR48bK9qo— Tennessee Athletics (@Vol_Sports) April 17, 2018
Trey Smith, who graduated high school early to enroll at Tennessee, was the only Vols offensive lineman to start every game and the only UT football player to earn All-SEC honors last season.
“To God be the glory!!” Smith tweeted after the award was announced on Twitter.
Smith was the highest rated freshman in the SEC last season by Pro Football Focus, and ESPN analyst and former Auburn lineman Cole Cubelic said a healthy Smith would be the top returning lineman in the SEC.
Smith has been rehabilitating by swinging a sledgehammer into large tractor tires and riding a stationary bicycle alongside the practice field, but his football future remains unknown.
There were several other great athletes recognized at the event held at the Knoxville Convention Center.
Lady Vols softball All-American and two-time Tennessee female athlete of the year Meghan Gregg was named “Mrs.” Tennessee, while basketball’s Grant Williams was named Mr. Tennessee.
Gregg was the SEC Player of the Year and Williams won SEC Player of the Year in men’s basketball.
The Vols’ men’s basketball team was also awarded the “Comeback of the Year” for coming from 11 points down in their regular season finale to win a share of the SEC regular season title.
Junior Admiral Schofield was the men’s winner of the “I Will Give My All” Award for his dedication.
#Volscars | I WILL GIVE MY ALL
“He really is one of those guys that you’re not over-exaggerating when say he’s going to put his time in.” – @RickBarnesUT pic.twitter.com/agoQiugUId
— Tennessee Athletics (@Vol_Sports) April 16, 2018
Soccer’s Kaite Cousins was the women’s winner of the “I Will Give My All” Award.
“Anyone who watches @CousinsKatie play can see how unique her skill-set is. Katie has worked hard to continue to develop her game.” – HC Brian Pensky pic.twitter.com/cSQoxoc5Kv
— Tennessee Athletics (@Vol_Sports) April 16, 2018
Global track star Christian Coleman won the Male Athlete of the Year, while Erika Brown from the Women’s Swimming and Diving program was the Female Athlete of the Year.
#Volscars | ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
• 2017 winner of The Bowerman
• Claimed 4 NCAA titles (sweeping the indoor and outdoor sprints)
• Set the NCAA record in the 100m dash (9.82) pic.twitter.com/Nmiub676J6— Tennessee Athletics (@Vol_Sports) April 17, 2018
Coleman set the NCAA record in the 100-meter dash (9.82 seconds) en route to winning four NCAA titles.
Brown won six SEC gold medals and set the SEC record in the 100-yard butterfly.
#Volscars | ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
• 6 SEC Gold Medals
• SEC record in the 100yd butterfly pic.twitter.com/vyyjG4we8Y— Tennessee Athletics (@Vol_Sports) April 17, 2018
This Inspiration Award winner was Zhipeng (Colin) Zeng from the Vols’ swimming & diving team. UT’s release stated that “Zeng’s journey from China to America as a 15-year-old boy to pursue a future as a swimmer was the very embodiment of inspirational.”
Comeback of the Year: Men’s Baketball vs. Georgia (March 3, 2018)
Male “I Will Give My All” Award: Admiral Schofield, Men’s Basketball
Female “I Will Give My All” Award: Kaite Cousins, Soccer
Male Rookie of the Year: Trey Smith, Football
Female Rookie of the Year: Rennia Davis, Women’s Basketball
#Volscars | ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
• SEC All-Freshman Team
• 2-time SEC Freshman of the Week
• 9 double-doubles pic.twitter.com/bIMeZ8zaJA— Tennessee Athletics (@Vol_Sports) April 16, 2018
Male Athlete of the Year: Christian Coleman, Men’s Track & Field
Female Athlete of the Year: Erika Brown, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Mr. Tennessee: Grant Williams, Men’s Basketball
#Volscars | MR. TENNESSEE
• SEC Player of the Year
• First Team All-SEC
• Led the #Vols in scoring pic.twitter.com/9uhi0RKlUr— Tennessee Athletics (@Vol_Sports) April 17, 2018
Ms. Tennessee: Meghan Gregg, Softball
#Volscars | MS. TENNESSEE
• Program leader in career HRs and RBIs
• 2017 SEC Player of the Year
• 2017 First Team All-American pic.twitter.com/OX8R7hRYC9— Tennessee Athletics (@Vol_Sports) April 17, 2018