The Day After Tennessee's 65-24 win

Tennessee’s first team offense was spectacular, the defense settled in and controlled things in the first half as the Vols led 52-7 at the half and went on to a 65-24 win over UT-Martin . The win moves Tennessee to 7-0 as they prepare to host Kentucky Saturday night.   We review the Vols victory with The Day After.

Hot and Not

HOT

Jalin Hyatt — The receiver continues his torrid pace. Hyatt now has 769 yards on 40 catches this season and has 12 touchdown receptions. The school record is 13. Only nine receivers in school history have had a 1000 yard season. Hyatt is on pace for 1,300 yards in the regular season. The school record is 1,298 yards by Robert Meachem in 2006.

Hendon Hooker — Hooker threw for 276 yards and three touchdowns on a  day where he completed 75% of his throws. For the season, Hooker is completing 71% of his throws and his average yards per completion is 15 yards. 

Ramel Keyton  —Keyton has stepped up big time filling in for the injured Cedric Tillman. Keyton had five catches for 77 yards and two scores on Saturday. In the last four games, Keyton has 15 catches for 319 yards and two touchdowns. 

William Wright — Give the walk on credit. He took full advantage of a bunch of reps in spring practice to try and earn the coaching staff’s trust. He did that as he was put on the field with the game on the line in the final drive against Alabama. He was put into the the line up on Saturday after Brandon Turnage got hurt earlyand Wright made a key interception to turn the game into a rout.  I’m going to bet Wright hasn’t played his last meaningful snap this year. 

NOT

Paxton Books — Brooks’ operation time seemed fine and a little faster than it has been, but he didn’t hit the ball well at all on his two punts. Brooks averaged 28 yards on two punts. You chalk it up as a bad day, but it wasn’t his best. Brooks also didn’t get his kickoffs into the end zone. 

Defining moments

The start — Would the Vols be flat? Would they have an Alabama hang over? Josh Heupel said his team practiced well all week and they were ready to go. The defense opened the game with a three and out. Tennessee scored on a nine play 74 yard drive after the punt highlighted by a 44 yard completion to Jalin Hyatt.  You have to be impressed with how ready Tennessee is to start games. 

Fant to Hyatt for 66 yards and a score — Shades of Von Reeves to Carl Pickens in 1990, Josh Heupel and Alex Golesh dialed up a “special” as Princeton Fant showed off his arm in a deep shot to Jalin Hyatt. Hyatt bobbled it and pulled it in for six.

William Wright interception — With Tennessee leading 14-7, UT-Martin was on the moved and was nearly in field goal range. Walk on defensive back William Wright who was thrust into action at the end of the Alabama game stepped in front of a Dresser Winn pass and ended the Skyhawk’s threat. Tennessee’s offense turned it onto a 13 play scoring drive and the rout was on. 

0:00 — Full attention is now on Kentucky and the Vols’ five game run in the SEC.  Saturday’s game was perfect scheduling. Tennessee took care of business, played a lot of guys and didn’t suffer any injuries as they get ready for Saturday night’s visit from the Wildcats. 

Inside the numbers

7-174-2  — That’s Jalin Hyatt’s stat line Saturday. Hyatt now has 769 yards on 40 catches this season. He is averaging 19.2 yards a catch.

217 — Number of points the Vols have scored in the first half of seven games this season. For perspective, that’s more points in the first half than the Vols scored in Jeremy Pruitt’s last season (10 games). It shows the importance of good quarterback play. 

10 — Number of consecutive games where the Vols have scored 30+ points

76 — Number of rushing yards allowed by the Vol defense. Tennessee has given up 245 yards on the ground in its last 12 quarters of football.

Gameball

Let’s go Princeton Fant. The former running back, receiver, turned tight end had two rushing touchdowns and threw a touchdown. You don’t see that stat line out of a tight end. The Vols showed the off-set i-formation again and Fant continues to be a nice short yardage weapon for this team. 

Fant could have had a third touchdown had he not dropped a skinny post. 

Since his fumble on the first possession against Florida, Fant has played really well. 

Biggest concern/question moving forward

How healthy is the secondary going to be? Is Kamal Hadden going to be back? What’s the status of Christian Charles and Brandon Turnage? Will Jaylen McCollough’s legal issues get resolved?

Will Cedric Tillman return? What about Juwan Mitchell. 

Tennessee’s run defense has been really good all year. It will be tested Saturday with the most physical back they have seen this season, can the Vols continue to win making teams more one dimensional.