PFF Grades: Texas A&M at Tennessee

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 18 plays — 25% of offensive plays)

C Cooper Mays — 76.7 (77 plays)

RB Jaylen Wright — 75.3 (37 plays)

TE McCallan Castles — 72.7 (38 plays)

WR Chas Nimrod — 68.8 (44 plays)

RT Dayne Davis — 63.7 (32 plays)

QB Joe Milton III — 62.7 (77 plays)

TE Jacob Warren — 61.8 (44 plays)

RB Jabari Small — 61.6 (24 plays)

LT John Campbell — 61.1 (77 plays)

RG Javontez Spraggins — 59.3 (77 plays)

WR Squirrel White — 59.0 (58 plays)

WR Dont’e Thornton — 54.3 (18 plays)

LG Ollie Lane — 50.8 (77 plays)

WR Kaleb Webb — 45.7 (32 plays)

WR Ramel Keyton — 45.4 (77 plays)

RT Gerald Mincey — 43.9 (45 plays)

One of my biggest takeaways from last night is just how much better Tennessee’s offensive line is with Cooper Mays at center. We saw that against an average South Carolina defensive line two weeks ago but for them to control the ground game against Texas A&M’s defensive front is extremely impressive.

Tennessee’s running back grades added up. Wright was fantastic again and Small played a strong game. Dylan Sampson wasn’t particularly effective and earned a 52.2 grade in 16 plays.

Milton was bad and the numbers bear it out but so were Tennessee’s receiving core. The Vols’ veteran quarterback is their passing game’s biggest issue but the receivers have been far from effective.

Lastly, Gerald Mincey played his worst game of the season before suffering a lower body injury. I thought Dayne Davis performed well in relief.

More From RTI: Tennessee Wins Despite Absence Of ‘Heupel Offense’

Defensive Grades (minimum of 16 plays — 25% of defensive plays)

LEO James Pearce Jr. — 92.2 (34 plays)

CB Kamal Hadden — 84.5 (60 plays)

DT Bryson Eason — 79.0 (30 plays)

DT Omari Thomas — 76.4 (28 plays)

S Wesley Walker — 73.4 (68 plays)

DT Kurott Garland — 72.3 (26 plays)

LB Elijah Herring — 70.3 (46 plays)

DE Tyler Baron — 69.5 (45 plays)

DT Elijah Simmons — 69.3 (18 plays)

LB Aaron Beasley — 68.0 (62 plays)

STAR Tamarion McDonald — 67.4 (64 plays)

LEO Roman Harrison — 63.7 (38 plays)

CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally — 62.8 (58 plays)

S Jaylen McCollough — 60.7 (68 plays)

DE Dominic Bailey — 60.5 (35 plays)

Tennessee’s defensive line carried the day again. Three of the Vols’ top four highest graded defenders were defensive lineman. Pearce was dominant again and keeps proving to be one of the SEC’s top pass rushers.

Kamal Hadden keeps playing great football. He was targeted seven times and gave up just two catches for 32 yards and added a game sealing interception.

Wesley Walker keeps playing solid football for Tennessee. He’s not a superstar but he’s been better that what the Vols’ have had at safety for most of the Josh Heupel era.