Tennessee football had its first of two open dates of its 2024 season on Saturday ahead of its week six matchup at October.
With the Vols off on Saturday, let’s take a look at how Tennessee players have individually graded out over the first month of the season according to PFF.
If you need a reminder on how Pro Football Focus works, read the opening of the Chattanooga grades.
Elite grade = 90-100, All-Conference = 85-89, Starter = 70-84, Backup = 60-69, Replaceable = 60 >
Offensive Grades (minimum 50 snaps)
WR Dont’e Thornton — 90.1 (87 plays)
RB Dylan Sampson — 88.1 (153 plays)
RB DeSean Bishop — 82.3 (77 plays)
TE Miles Kitselman — 74.1 (144 plays)
C Cooper Mays — 69.9 (231 plays)
WR Bru McCoy — 69.2 (176 plays)
OT Lance Heard — 69.1 (108 plays)
QB Nico Iamaleava — 68.6 (231 plays)
TE Holden Staes — 66.5 (121 plays)
OG Andrej Karic — 66.2 (193 plays)
TE Ethan Davis — 65.2 (65 plays)
WR Chris Brazzell — 64.7 (154 plays)
WR Kaleb Webb — 63.9 (75 plays)
WR Squirrel White — 62.1 (134 plays)
OG Javontez Spraggins — 59.2 (216 plays)
OT Larry Johnson III — 57.9 (110 plays)
OG Jackson Lampley — 57.7 (88 plays)
OT John Campbell — 56.9 (125 plays)
WR Chas Nimrod — 55.8 (83 plays)
OT Dayne Davis — 54.2 (172 plays)
A take I’m not ready to fully commit to but am tinkering with— its time for Dont’e Thornton to play full starter reps. It feels like Tennessee wants to use him as a limited snap, big play guy. But I think he’s the most dangerous receiver that Tennessee has. It’s time to give him more opportunities.
Looking at the offensive line grades and it’s easy to pinpoint Lance Heard’s importance. He hasn’t been perfect but he has been the Vols’ top offensive lineman and the other three have been very shaky. What is exciting about the offensive line is that Andrej Karic is playing really well and I’m confident that Javontez Spraggins will start performing better.
The same could be said for Nico Iamaleava who has been solid so far this season but has another gear he can find.
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Defensive Grades
LEO Josh Josephs — 92.5 (78 plays)
DT Omarr Norman-Lott — 88.1 (60 plays)
CB Jermod McCoy — 87.0 (158 plays)
DE Tyre West — 84.9 (56 plays)
DT Omari Thomas — 84.6 (75 plays)
S Will Brooks — 77.2 (133 plays)
LB Jeremiah Telander — 75.9 (74 plays)
CB Jalen McMurray — 75.8 (68 plays)
DT Elijah Simmons — 74.7 (58 plays)
S Jakobe Thomas — 73.9 (69 plays)
DT Jaxson Moi — 72.5 (53 plays)
LEO James Pearce Jr — 69.4 (107 plays)
CB Rickey Gibson III — 69.2 (120 plays)
LB Keenan Pili — 68.3 (118 plays)
LB Jalen Smith — 68.2 (55 plays)
CB Jordan Matthews — 65.9 (59 plays)
DT Bryson Eason — 65.4 (85 plays)
DE Dominic Bailey — 65.0 (107 plays)
LB Arion Carter — 64.0 (131 plays)
S Andre Turrentine — 62.2 (137 plays)
STAR Christian Harrison — 58.6 (114 plays)
STAR Boo Carter — 53.8 (82 plays)
A couple players that came just under the 50 snaps threshold— linebacker Kalib Perry and safeties John Slaughter and Christian Charles. Both Charles and Perry have missed games with an injury and would be over that threshold if not.
Speaking of safeties, shoutout to both Will Brooks and Jakobe Thomas who are just playing really solid football entering the season. I wasn’t high on either of those guys entering the season but they’re off to a strong start and have solidified the safety spot.
It’s no surprise to see Tennessee’s defensive line so well represented at the top of this list with four of the top five players being defensive linemen. I do feel like Tennessee’s linebackers, particularly Keenan Pili and Arion Carter, are performing better than their early grades.
Team Grades
Overall — 95.3 (3rd best in SEC)
Offense — 78.9 (8th)
Passing — 76.9 (9th)
Pass block — 73.6 (9th)
Receiving — 78.3 (3rd)
Running — 83.3 (3rd)
Run block — 57.3 (14th)
Defense — 92.0 (3rd)
Run defense — 93.6 (2nd)
Tackling — 75.0 (2nd)
Pass rush — 81.5 (5th)
Coverage — 89.4 (4th)
Special teams — 85.9 (3rd)
