Matthew Salanasky

HISTORY — From College Profile

CAREER HONORS

2022 Burlsworth Trophy Nominee
2021 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll

CAREER

Tennessee’s starting long snapper for the the past three seasons … A walk-on who has played in 35 career games and comes from a family history of Vols … Including the 2022 season, has three years of eligibility remaining.

2022 – RS-JUNIOR

Has logged 122 snaps in 2022, 72 PATs, 31 punts and 19 field goals ... Logged 12 perfect snaps on a rainy night in Nashville, dishing eight extra points and four snaps against Vanderbilt (11/26) ... Delivered his 100th snap of the season against Missouri (11/12), executing nine PATs, one successful field goal and a pair of punts in the win ... Tallied 11 snaps for the second consecutive week, delivering on six PATs, three punts and a pair of field goals against #19 Kentucky (10/29) ... In his 30th collegiate game, had 11 snaps against UT Martin (10/22) coming on seven extra-points, two field goals and two punts ... Logged eight snaps against #3 Alabama (10/15), including the game-winning field goal with two seconds remaining on the clock to help the Vols snap a 15-game losing skid to the Crimson Tide ... In a stellar game for the special teams unit, recorded 11 snaps, five being field goals, four extra points and a pair of punts at #25 LSU (10/8) ... Had only six snaps in the win over #20 Florida (9/24), converting five PATs and a field goal ... Recorded 12 snaps against Akron (9/17), nine PATs, one field goal and two punts ... Made eight snaps at #17 Pitt (9/10), six punts and two field goals, including a 51-yarder in the fourth quarter ... Started the year with 11 perfect snaps in the season-opening win against Ball State (9/1), delivering on eight PATs, two punts and one field goal.

2021 – RS-SOPHOMORE

Played all 13 games and logged 131 total snaps over the course of the season ... Made a season-high 14 snaps (6 punt, 6 PATs, 2 FG) at the TransPerfect Music City Bowl vs. Purdue (12/30) ... Snapped the ball eight times (1 punt, 1 FG, 6 PATs) as Tennessee took down Vanderbilt (11/27) ... Had 10 snaps (2 punts, 8 PATs) in UT’s 60-14 victory over South Alabama (11/20) ... Logged seven snaps (4 punts, 2 PATs, 1 FG) vs. #1 Georgia (11/13) ... Snapped the ball nine times (1 punt, 6 PATs, 2 FGs) in UT’s 45-42 win at #18 Kentucky (11/6) ... Tallied 11 snaps (7 punts, 3 PATs, 1 FG) for the second week in a row at #4 Alabama (10/23) ... Had 11 snaps on six punts, three PATs and two field goals vs. #13 Ole Miss (10/16) ... Made 12 snaps (5 punts, 6 PATs, 1 FG) in the win over South Carolina (10/9) ... Snapped on 10 successful kicks (2 FG, 8 PAT) in UT’s resounding 62-24 victory at Mizzou (10/2) ... Had nine snaps at Florida (9/25) and recorded his first tackle of the season on punt coverage ... Snapped 10 times (6 PATs, 4 punts) in UT’s 56-0 shutout win over Tennessee Tech (9/18) ... Successfully snapped the ball on four punts, two field goals and four PATs vs. Pitt (9/11) ... Converted successful snaps on three punts, five extra points and one field goal in UT’s season-opening victory over Bowling Green (9/2).

2020 – RS-FRESHMAN

Assumed starting long snapping duties in Game 1 … Played in all 10 games and successfully executed every snap on special teams ... Finished the year with three tackles ... Snapped eight times and recorded a career-high two tackles at No. 3 Georgia (10/10) ... Was UT's starting long snapper in win over Missouri (10/3), snapping nine times while making his first career tackle ... Made debut in season-opening win at South Carolina (9/26), snapping 11 times.

2019 – FRESHMAN

Did not see any action as a true freshman ... earned a redshirt.

HIGH SCHOOL

Three-year starter at nearby Morristown West High School in Morristown, Tennessee … Starred at linebacker but also saw time at running back and was the Trojans’ long snapper … Helped lead Morristown West to the Class 5A state playoff quarterfinals in 2015 and 2016 … Recorded 84 tackles, a sack and an interception as a senior in 2018.

PERSONAL

Full name is Matthew Phillip Salansky … Born on Jan. 30, 2000 … Son of Debra and Gary Salansky … Has one brother, Garrett … Uncle, Casey Woods, lettered at wide receiver and was a specialist holder for the Vols from 2005-07 … Both his brother and mother graduated from Tennessee … Grew up 45 minutes away wanting to always play for the Orange and White … Says his father is his biggest inspiration because he was his strength coach in high school and helped mold him into who he is today … Favorite movie is “Miracle” … Favorite foods are breakfast foods, including steak, eggs, pancakes and biscuits … Favorite TV show is “The Office” … Place would most like to visit is Germany … Favorite sport other than football is rugby … Owns his own mowing business … Aspires to become an engineer after football … Majoring in pre-professional programs … Twitter handle is @mattesalansky and Instagram handle is @matte_sal_28.

-- 6/22/23

2021

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
0.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

2020

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
0.0	0.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0