Tennessee expected Boo Carter to provide stability in the punt return game entering the 2025 season after he showcased impressive playmaking ability as a true freshman. Instead, the Volunteers struggled to find consistency, as Carter muffed several punts early in the year.
The coaching staff initially gave Braylon Staley an opportunity to handle return duties before eventually turning the role over to freshman running back Daune Morris for the remainder of the season.
As preparations for the 2026 campaign continue, Tennessee is once again evaluating its options at punt returner. During Wednesday’s media session, head coach Josh Heupel identified true freshman wide receiver Tyreek King as one of the players competing for the role.
“He’s extremely explosive, dynamic with the ball in his hands,” Heupel said. “Working some punt return stuff, (has) a skill set there as well.”
King, a four-star prospect from Knoxville Catholic, did not enroll early and officially joined the Volunteers during the summer. His explosiveness and ability to create big plays with the football have quickly made him a candidate to contribute on special teams.
King welcomed the opportunity to compete for the job.
“I want to do that so bad,” King said of returning punts. “I would definitely love to take on that position.”
Later in the press conference, Heupel added that King is not the only player being evaluated, noting that several other Volunteers have also been fielding punts during practice as the coaching staff works to determine who will handle return duties this season.
KNOXVILLE, TN – September 13, 2025 – Wide receiver Mike Matthews #4 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kyndall Williams/Tennessee Athletics
Heupel said the competition to become Tennessee’s primary punt returner remains wide open, with several players getting opportunities during fall camp.
“Got a bunch of guys that’s competing for that spot,” Heupel said. “Qua Moss, you know Staley was back there some last year. Mike Matthews. There’s a bunch of them.”
One of the names Heupel highlighted was Qua Moss, who did not handle punt return duties during his time at Kansas State last season. However, while playing at West Georgia in 2024, Moss returned seven punts for 107 yards, giving him prior experience in the role.
Braylon Staley also remains in the mix after seeing limited action as a returner last season. Although he muffed a punt against Mississippi State—a costly mistake that came off an unusual kick from a left-footed punter—Staley has otherwise been one of Tennessee’s more dependable players.
Wide receiver Mike Matthews is another intriguing candidate. While he has yet to return a punt in college, his open-field elusiveness and athleticism make him a natural fit for the job. Matthews did battle some drops as a receiver last season, but the coaching staff views punt returning as a different skill set.
Developing a reliable return game could play an important role for the Volunteers in 2026, especially with a young quarterback expected to lead the offense. Consistently winning the field-position battle on special teams could provide a valuable edge throughout the season.
Heupel outlined the qualities he wants in his punt returner.
“You got to have a guy that’s a fearless, dynamic playmaker, that’s an aggressive but smart decision maker. Once he has the ball in his hands, has to be able to make somebody miss,” Heupel said. “It’s one of the plays in the game that can be as an explosive play as there is. And when we’ve been really good on that unit we’ve had 10 of the guys doing their job at the line of scrimmage at a really high level, but we’ve had a guy that is fearless and willing to go make a play too. And that’s the expectation here. We’ve had some great returners since I’ve been here, but in the history of college football too. You look at the history of return game here.”
Although Heupel did not specifically mention Daune Morris among the players taking reps at punt returner, the sophomore running back remains a potential option after returning three punts for 24 yards during the 2025 season.
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