Sports Editor Troy Provost-Heron covered UT’s game in Neyland Stadium against Kentucky on Saturday. He assessed grades for each position based on the group’s performance in the Vols’ 50-16 victory over the Wildcats.
Quarterbacks: A
It may not have been a 467-yard performance like the one he had against South Carolina, but Joshua Dobbs once again excelled under center for the Vols. In three quarters of action, the sophomore signal caller amassed 297 yards and three touchdowns through the air (19-of-27). On the ground, he added 48 yards and another score on 10 carries.
Running Backs: A-
Freshman Jalen Hurd eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the second consecutive game, finishing the day with 118 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. After three quarters, Hurd came out, allowing Justus Pickett and Deanthonie Summerhill to combine for 43 yards on 12 carries.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: A
With Marquez North banged up and unable to play considerable minutes, the rest of the Vols’ receiving corps stepped up in his absence. Von Pearson scored two touchdowns and had 44 yards on three catches while Jason Croom had a career-high 87 yards, 52 of which came on his touchdown reception in the third quarter.
Offensive Line: A
The Vols’ unit up front gave up only one sack and helped pave the way for an offense that racked up 214 yards on the ground. The offensive line has undoubtedly benefited from Dobbs’ insertion into the lineup, but after taking a ton of heat for their performance earlier in the season, I doubt they are complaining.
Defensive Line: A-
Derek Barnett once again led the way for the defensive line, recording two sacks and four tackles for loss. The line, however, also did a great job in clogging the running lanes, only allowing the Wildcats to gain 94 yards on 34 carries.
Linebackers: B+
Overall, it was a pretty silent night by UT linebacking standards. Jalen Reeves-Maybin and A.J. Johnson only recorded five tackles apiece, even though Johnson did surpass the 100-tackle mark, marking him the first UT linebacker to have three consecutive 100-tackle seasons since Andy Spiva (1974-76). Curt Maggitt added two sacks, giving him eight on the season.
Secondary: A
The Vols’ secondary held Kentucky to just 168 passing yards, but the unit also impacted the game with turnovers. Brian Randolph’s 23-yard interception return for a touchdown swung momentum clearly in UT’s favor early in the first quarter and the Vols carried it until the final whistle. Justin Coleman added an interception of his own as well.
Special Teams: C+
Aaron Medley missed his longest attempt of the night — a 48-yarder in the third quarter — but converted on all three of his other field goal attempts. The freshman did, however, miss an extra point. Matt Darr averaged 43.5 yards on his four punts and Evan Berry averaged 30.3 yards on his three kick returns.
Week 10 GPA: The Vols earn a football GPA of 3.63 for their performance in a 50-16 win against Kentucky.
Cumulative GPA: Through 10 games, UT holds a cumulative GPA of 2.79.
