PFF Grades: Austin Peay at Tennessee

Tennessee improved to 2-0 Saturday evening by winning its home opener against Austin Peay 30-13. Each week, we’ll share how the Vols graded out according to Pro Football Focus grades.

If you need a reminder on how Pro Football Focus works, read the opening of the Virginia 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 16 plays — 25% of offensive plays)

OT Gerald Mincey — 85.2 (36 plays)

RB Jaylen Wright — 83.9 (20 plays)

LG Andrej Karic — 77.3 (56 plays)

C/OG Ollie Lane — 72.9 (47 plays)

LT John Campbell Jr. — 71.7 (62 plays)

WR Bru McCoy — 66.0 (66 plays)

TE McCallan Castles — 65.6 (38 plays)

RG Javontez Spraggins — 64.6 (66 plays)

QB Joe Milton — 62.2 (66 plays)

RB Jabari Small — 61.1 (26 plays)

TE Jacob Warren — 58.4 (31 plays)

WR Ramel Keyton — 52.4 (66 plays)

WR Squirrel White — 52.2 (55 plays)

C/OT Dayne Davis — 52.1 (19 plays)

RT Jeremiah Crawford — 40.3 (34 plays)

It was unsurprisingly not a week of great grades from Tennessee’s offense but the Vols’ offensive line did perform well. Tennessee played a number of offensive linemen and five of them finished in the top six of the Vols’ offensive grades.

Tennessee’s passing game struggled against Austin Peay at the numbers bore it out. Milton graded out as a backup and Bru McCoy is the only Vol receiver that earned a grade better than 55.

It was pretty staggering looking at Tennessee’s snap counts. A number of starters including Milton, McCoy, Keyton and Spraggins played every offensive snap. Dont’e Thornton only played eight snaps while Dylan Sampson only played 10.

More From RTI: Everything Joe Milton Said After Tennessee Defeated Austin Peay

Defensive Grades (minimum of 19 plays — 20% of defensive plays)

DT Kurott Garland — 89.9 (23 plays)

DE Tyler Baron — 85.8 (43 plays)

LB Aaron Beasley — 78.8 (47 plays)

DT Omarr Norman-Lott — 77.6 (37 plays)

S Wesley Walker — 74.3 (81 plays)

LB Jeremiah Telander — 74.1 (20 plays)

CB Warren Burrell — 69.2 (40 plays)

CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally — 68.7 (39 plays)

STAR Tamarion McDonald — 68.6 (68 plays)

CB Kamal Hadden — 67.8 (41 plays)

LB Elijah Herring — 66.2 (51. plays)

LEO James Pearce Jr. — 64.5 (27 plays)

S Jaylen McCollough — 63.9 (72 plays)

DT Bryson Eason — 63.8 (25 plays)

DT Daevin Hobbs — 60.3 (23 plays)

DT Omari Thomas — 57.1 (35 plays)

LEO Roman Harrison — 54.6 (41 plays)

CB Doneiko Slaughter — 53.9 (41 plays)

DE Tyre West — 46.7 (18 plays)

LB Arion Carter — 46.4 (31 plays)

LEO Josh Josephs had a great second game of his sophomore season earning an 80.4 grade (the third highest by a Tennessee defender) in 17 snaps.

Aaron Beasley and Omarr Norman-Lott both played very well for a second straight game. Freshman linebacker Jeremiah Telander performed very well in his first real college football action. Fellow freshman Arion Carter struggled for the second straight week while receiving more snaps.

Defensive tackle Omari Thomas graded out poorly for a second straight game. Let’s see if he can find his stride in SEC play.

One final note, Tennessee’s first and second team corners played within one snap of one another.