Tennessee football lost a wild heartbreaker Saturday night to Ole Miss, 31-26.
The Vols trailed for nearly the whole game but had three opportunities to take the lead in the second half, failing to score each time.
If you need a reminder on how Pro Football Focus works, read the opening of the Bowling Green grades.
Let’s see how the Vols graded out.
Elite grade = 90-100, All-Conference = 85-89, Starter = 70-84, Backup = 60-69, Replaceable = 60 >
Offensive Grades (minimum 23 plays — 30% of offensive snaps)
QB Hendon Hooker — 94.5 (79 plays)
WR Cedric Tillman — 77.0 (79 plays)
WR Velus Jones Jr. — 71.7 (66 plays)
OT Darnell Wright — 70.5 (83 plays)
RB Jabari Small — 68.3 (75 plays)
C Jerome Carvin — 67.5 (83 plays)
OG Javontez Spraggins — 61.6 (82 plays)
TE Jacob Warren — 60.3 (39 plays)
OG Ollie Lane — 58.8 (83 plays)
WR JaVonta Payton — 52.5 (83 plays)
TE Princeton Fant — 41.4 (34 plays)
OT Dayne Davis — 40.8 (80 plays)
My biggest takeaway is that only 12 plays for Tennessee played 30% of the Vols’ offensive snaps. Tennessee rolled with the same guys all game in large part due to injuries. Jalin Hyatt was the only other Tennessee player to play more than 10 snaps, earning a 61.0 grade in 22 plays.
I didn’t expect Hooker’s grade to be that high either. The Vols relied on him to make plays with his feet and the quarterback did make a couple really nice throws. The dual threat quarterback totaled 351 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers.
Another week and another low grade for Princeton Fanta. He’s consistently graded out as one of the Vols’ worst offensive players. Dayne Davis struggled filling in for Cade Mays.
Defensive Grades (minimum of 30 plays — 30% of defensive snaps)
DE Byron Young — 78.0 (59 plays)
DT Matthew Butler — 72.5 (78 plays)
DE Caleb Tremblay — 68.3 (34 plays)
DT LaTrell Bumphus — 67.8 (43 plays)
S Trevon Flowers — 67.3 (100 plays)
DT Da’Jon Terry — 65.7 (35 plays)
DE Ja’Quain Blakely — 65.5 (66 plays)
DE Tyler Baron — 65.2 (42 plays)
STAR Theo Jackson — 65.0 (101 plays)
LB Jeremy Banks — 62.8 (76 plays)
CB Alontae Taylor — 61.8 (78 plays)
CB Warren Burrell — 61.1 (101 plays)
S Jaylen McCollough — 58.5 (101 plays)
LB Aaron Beasley — 55.5 (90 plays)
LB Solon Page III — 51.8 (40 plays)
DE Roman Harrison — 51.4 (33 plays)
Tennessee’s defensive played a ton of snaps with Ole Miss running over 100 plays. Four Tennessee players played 100 snaps and defensive lineman Matthew Butler played 78 snaps, an absurd number for a defensive tackle.
Tennessee’s defensive line continues to lead the Vols’ defense. The Vols’ four highest defenders were all defensive linemen. If you include Omari Thomas’ 82.0 grade on 21 plays then its the top five players.
Byron Young continues to get better every week. He made seven tackles and two for losses Saturday.
