Tennessee running back Cameron Seldon may be a threat out of the backfield despite the experienced players ahead of him on the depth chart. If not, he should be able to have a positive impact for the Vols even if he never gets an offensive carry. Seldon could be key player for UT in special teams as a kick returner.
“I think the biggest thing is Cam, first of all, is a guy that has the ability to catch the football,” Mack said. “And you see he played a lot of receiver in high school, so that carries over obviously as a kickoff return. If you wanted to return punts, he probably could do that as well.
“The second thing is we use the term running through the smoke. A big guy is 6-foot, 6-1, whatever he is, 220 pounds right now and he’s not really afraid of any contact. He will run through those small creases, especially on kickoff returns. You got those guys on kickoff team coming at you full speed. Cam has that ability to run through smoke. He understands his strength and he’s a big, strong, strong guy that can do that.”
Fellow tailback Dylan Sampson could also fill that role as he had one kick return last season for 24 yards last season. Former Vol Jimmy Holiday was Tennessee’s leading kick returner last season, but he decided to transfer to Western Kentucky. That leaves the door open for Seldon or running back Dylan Sampson or defensive backs Dee Williams and Doneiko Slaughter, who all returned one kick for the Vols last season. Williams, however, may be best suited to return punts. He led the Vols in punt returns and overall yardage. However, receiver Squirrel White could also be an option in punt returns.
Seldon may have a monstrous impact for the Vols as a tailback, but that seems unlikely since UT returns its three top tailbacks from last season: Sampson, Jabari Small and Dylan Wright. However, Seldon showed flashes of greatness in spring camp and continued to improve, per Mack.
“For Cam Seldon, it was more he made the jump, I really think in the summertime,” Mack said during his press conference on Tuesday. “In the spring, it was like Star Wars. Everything was going all over the place. I think things continued to slow down as we go through installs in the summertime. And then what you saw is in the fall, going through fall camp like now, the guy doesn’t really make a whole lot of mental mistakes.
“It’s going to be more about the fundamental piece being good, pad level, are the bright lights gonna scare him off a little bit? But I do think the way he’s been operating, his demeanor as a person is probably gonna allow him to really help us at some point in time this year.”
2 Responses
Gotta keep Seldon happy. A talent like this kid comes around about every 20-25 years. Needs to get a lot of carries, even if it’s taking away carries from others who deserve them more.
The UT RB room seems to be in a good position for the 2023 season. Excited for the group .