Tennessee football scored on the second play from scrimmage and coasted past UConn for a 59-3 homecoming victory on Saturday afternoon. The Vols moved to 7-2 (3-2 SEC) with the win ahead of next week’s matchup at Missouri.
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 15 plays — 25% of offensive plays)
QB Joe Milton III — 88.6 (30 plays)
RB Jaylen Wright — 88.1 (15 plays)
QB Nico Iamaleava — 84.1 (15 plays)
TE McCallan Castles — 76.2 (29 plays)
WR Squirrel White — 75.3 (29 plays)
RB Dylan Sampson — 73.3 (15 plays)
WR Ramel Keyton — 69.7 (35 plays)
WR Dont’e Thornton — 67.7 (34 plays)
C Cooper Mays — 67.7 (34 plays)
RT Dayne Davis — 64.2 (15 plays)
RT Gerald Mincey — 63.7 (30 plays)
LT Jeremiah Crawford — 60.8 (38 plays)
RG Javontez Spraggins — 60.7 (38 plays)
LG Addison Nichols — 56.2 (22 plays)
LG Ollie Lane — 55.7 (30 plays)
WR Chas Nimrod — 53.8 (18 plays)
Tennessee’s top three players— Joe Milton III, Jaylen Wright and Nico Iamaleava— all check out. They all turned in strong performances against the Huskies even in limited reps for Wright and Iamaleava.
This was the most players Tennessee played in a game all season. The Vols played 46 offensive players including 13 players who just missed the 15 play mark.
Gaston Moore, Connor Meadows, Vysen Lang and Ethan Davis earned the strongest grades amongst that group.
More From RTI: Josh Heupel Complimentary Of Nico Iamaleava’s Play After UConn
Defensive Grades (minimum of 17 plays — 25% of defensive plays)
DE Tyler Baron — 80.0 (26 plays)
S Jaylen McCollough — 76.9 (40 plays)
S Andre Turrentine — 76.2 (34 plays)
LEO James Pearce Jr. — 76.1 (24 plays)
CB Warren Burrell — 73.1 (23 plays)
CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally — 72.7 (33 plays)
STAR Tamarion McDonald — 71.9 (25 plays)
LB Kalib Perry — 71.0 (36 plays)
S Will Brooks — 70.3 (25 plays)
LB Aaron Beasley — 69.9 (39 plays)
CB Rickey Gibson III — 68.8 (40 plays)
STAR Jourdan Thomas — 68.1 (48 plays)
DT Elijah Simmons — 67.9 (27 plays)
CB Brandon Turnage — 67.1 (19 plays)
DT Kurott Garland — 66.1 (33 plays)
DT Daevin Hobbs — 64.7 (25 plays)
LEO Josh Josephs — 61.4 (21 plays)
CB Doneiko Slaughter — 60.6 (30 plays)
LEO Roman Harrison — 55.9 (22 plays)
DT Omarr Norman-Lott — 51.9 (22 plays)
DT Bryson Eason — 51.3 (22 plays)
S Walker Wesley — 49.9 (46 plays)
DE Jayson Jenkins — 47.0 (17 plays)
LB Jeremiah Telander — 43.1 (34 plays)
DE Tyre West — 34.2 (18 plays)
Tyler Baron and Jaylen McCollough are two seniors who are playing the best football of their career. That continued against UConn as they graded out as the Vols’ two top defensive players.
Two guys who I thought played really well against the Huskies were freshman corner Rickey Gibson III and defensive tackle Elijah Simmons. They both earned good grades but I’m surprised both, especially Simmons, weren’t graded out higher.
Tennessee’s defense also played a myriad of players— 37 in total. Austin Lewis, Dominic Bailey and Caleb Herring earned the highest grade of those players who didn’t reach 17 plays.
