AUSTIN, Texas — The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced Wednesday that Tennessee football seniors Paxton Brooks and Matthew Butler have been selected to the 2021-22 Academic All-America Division I football teams.
Both Tennessee graduates received Academic All-America recognition for the first time in their respective careers, and UT was one of three SEC schools to boast multiple honorees. Brooks was tabbed a first team selection at punter, while Butler earned second team honors as a defensive lineman.
The duo becomes the 14th and 15th student-athletes in Tennessee history to garner Academic All-America laurels. Last month, Brooks and Butler each claimed Academic All-District 3 First Team honors for the third consecutive season—becoming the first players in program history to accomplish that feat.
A senior punter from Lexington, South Carolina, Brooks completed his undergraduate degree in three years, receiving his bachelor’s in kinesiology in May 2021. He maintained a 3.92 undergrad GPA and recently wrapped up his first semester of grad school, pursuing a master’s in kinesiology with a biomechanics concentration.
Brooks has played in all 12 games for the Vols this season and ranks third in the SEC in punting average (44.15). The Ray Guy Award watch list member has booted 11 punts of 50 yards or more in 2021, including a career-high 64-yarder in the season opener vs. Bowling Green. He has pinned 15 punts inside the 20-yard line and recorded only three touchbacks over the course of the season.
A fifth-year standout at Tennessee, Butler earned his bachelor’s degree in political science in December 2020 with a 3.63 undergraduate GPA. He is now working to complete his master’s in political science and touts a 3.70 GPA in grad school. The super senior defensive lineman is a recipient of the 2021 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and was one of two Tennessee representatives nominated for the 2020-21 SEC McWhorter Award that is presented annually to the conference’s top scholar-athletes.
The Raleigh, North Carolina, native has started 11 of 12 games this season and ranks second on the team with a career-best 5.0 sacks and fourth on the squad with 8.5 tackles for loss. His last seven games have been especially productive, as Butler has tallied 30 tackles, five sacks, 6.5 TFLs, five QB hurries and one forced fumble during that span.
Tennessee will wrap up the 2021 campaign in two weeks against Purdue at the TransPerfect Music City Bowl in Nashville on Thursday, December 30, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. ET on ESPN. Ticket information is available at musiccitybowl.com and tickets can be purchased directly via TicketMaster.
Existing UT season ticket holders can renew their tickets for the 2022 season now by visiting AllVols.com. Fans wishing to purchase new season tickets for the 2022 campaign can submit a request by clicking HERE.
-UT Athletics
