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Tennessee Football: Five Most Pleasant Surprises for 2016 Vols at Midseason

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (C) is carried off the field by team mates after catching the game winning touchdown pass against the Georgia Bulldogs on the last play on the game during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (C) is carried off the field by team mates after catching the game winning touchdown pass against the Georgia Bulldogs on the last play on the game during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) catches a game winning touchdown pass in front of Georgia Bulldogs safety Dominick Sanders (24) on the last play on the game during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) catches a game winning touchdown pass in front of Georgia Bulldogs safety Dominick Sanders (24) on the last play on the game during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Jauan Jennings’s emergence

Going into the year, we expected Josh Malone to be the top wide receiver for Joshua Dobbs and Tennessee football. And through the first four games, he did not disappoint, catching five touchdowns and changing games.

However, eventually teams began to sell out to keep an eye on him. And Butch Jones and Mike DeBord began to have trouble with their No. 2 receiver, Preston Williams. He became a drop-machine and frustrated the fans.

So against the Florida Gators, they decided to start Jauan Jennings in his place. Jennings already had a key, game-changing touchdown against the Virginia Tech Hokies. Since inserting him in there for good, they haven’t looked back.

Jennings had three very impressive catches against the Gators, the highlight one of which he burned Jalen Tabor on a touchdown catch to give the Vols the lead.

A week later, he continued his dominant play and caught the Hail Mary for a game-winning touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs. That wasn’t a lucky catch either.

Jennings went up over everybody and brought the ball down.

The next week against the Texas A&M Aggies, he even threw for a touchdown. Jennings has been a star in every way for Tennessee football, and he helped give Dobbs two go-to receivers. The former quarterback has emerged as a leader of the Vols too.

That’s a huge deal and a great surprise. It has contributed to the final point on this list. This is a pleasant surprise and a mention that, ironically, will surprise no one.

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