Tennessee football took care of business on Saturday afternoon, coasting past UTEP 56-0 at Neyland Stadium on Senior Day. The Vols started slow in the opening quarter before scoring 28 points in the second quarter to take care of the game.
If you need a reminder on how Pro Football Focus works, read the opening of the Chattanooga 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 >
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Offensive Grades (minimum 13 plays — 20% of offensive plays)
LG Andrej Karic — 82.6 (50 plays)
OG Max Anderson — 82.2 (20 plays)
RB Dylan Sampson — 79.2 (38 plays)
C Cooper Mays — 78.2 (52 plays)
LT Larry Johnson III — 76.9 (23 plays)
RT Dayne Davis — 76.6 (32 plays)
OT Jesse Perry — 76.3 (20 plays)
TE Ethan Davis — 75.0 (26 plays)
TE Miles Kitselman — 72.6 (30 plays)
RT John Campbell Jr — 72.5 (20 plays)
OG Jackson Lampley — 71.3 (32 plays)
WR Bru McCoy — 71.2 (45 plays)
QB Nico Iamaleava — 68.8 (52 plays)
LT Lance Heard — 68.8 (41 plays)
RG Javontez Spraggins — 66.0 (28 plays)
OG Ayden Bussell — 65.7 (14 plays)
RB Peyton Lewis — 63.6 (14 plays)
WR Mike Matthews — 62.4 (36 plays)
TE Holden Staes — 60.6 (22 plays)
WR Dont’e Thornton — 57.7 (37 plays)
WR Squirrel White — 53.7 (40 plays)
Tennessee played a ton of offensive players in this game and most notably on the offensive line with 13 different lineman playing. Guards Andrej Karic and Max Anderson graded out as Tennessee’s best offensive players.
The Vols did not play a ton of receivers in this game and the ones that did performed poorly. Bru McCoy was the only receiver that earned a grade over 63. Chris Brazzell played just four snaps. I didn’t notice him playing at all during the game. Interesting note there.
Running back Cam Seldon came up just short of the snaps requirements but earned an 80.4 grade in 12 snaps.
Defensive Grades (minimum 15 snaps — 20% of defensive plays)
DT Bryson Eason — 91.4 (25 plays)
LEO James Pearce Jr — 89.2 (27 plays)
CB Rickey Gibson III — 87.6 (48 plays)
DE Jayson Jenkins — 83.3 (28 plays)
LB Kalib Perry — 83.1 (32 plays)
LEO Josh Josephs — 82.8 (24 plays)
CB Jermod McCoy — 77.3 (43 plays)
LB Jalen Smith — 76.1 (24 plays)
LB Arion Carter — 75.1 (36 plays)
CB Jalen McMurray — 72.6 (38 plays)
STAR Christian Harrison — 69.7 (38 plays)
CB Jordan Matthews — 65.8 (18 plays)
S Jakobe Thomas — 65.8 (20 plays)
STAR Boo Carter — 65.0 (38 plays)
DT Omari Thomas — 64.1 (20 plays)
S Andre Turrentine — 60.7 (45 plays)
DT Daevin Hobbs — 60.4 (32 plays)
DT Elijah Simmons — 59.1 (21 plays)
S Will Brooks — 57.1 (42 plays)
S Christian Charles — 55.8 (23 plays)
LEO Caleb Herring — 55.7 (23 plays)
DT Jaxson Moi — 51.1 (24 plays)
LB Jeremiah Telander — 47.8 (28 plays)
DE Dominic Bailey — 47.2 (20 plays)
DE Tyre West — 35.7 (17 plays)
Tennessee’s corners were fantastic against UTEP with Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson forcing two of the Miners’ three turnovers. Gibson has earned his three highest grades of the season in the last three games.
Besides sophomore Jeremiah Telander, Tennessee’s linebackers were much better in this game. The Vols need them to be good again next week against Vanderbilt’s triple option style offense.
Credit to Bryson Eason for playing a dominant game on Senior Day. He’s one of those seniors who still has another year of eligibility. The Vols would like him back.
