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Tennessee Football: 10 Vols Most Deserving of 2016 Postseason Recognition

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) hits Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jacob Eason (10) causing a fumble recovered by Tennessee for a touchdown 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 defensive end Derek Barnett (9) hits Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jacob Eason (10) causing a fumble recovered by Tennessee for a touchdown during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 12, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Josh Malone (3) catches a pass against Kentucky Wildcats safety Marcus McWilson (15) during the third quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Josh Malone (3) catches a pass against Kentucky Wildcats safety Marcus McWilson (15) during the third quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

Jauan Jennings has the play of the year for Tennessee football and was also one of the biggest game-changer for the Vols.

But Josh Malone was a bigger game-changer and had the numbers to go with it. Malone caught four touchdowns in the first three games, and three of them resulted in lead changes. That’s incredible.

His fifth touchdown came against the Florida Gators and helped the Vols build an insurmountable lead in that game.

Malone finished the year with 45 receptions for 852 yards and 10 touchdowns. Those numbers aren’t All-American numbers, but when you consider the fact that he was mostly splitting time all year with another receiver, these are certainly All-SEC numbers.

And the game-changing aspect of his catches count as well. Of Malone’s 10 touchdown receptions, five resulted in lead changes on the year. The other five all came with the Vols clinging to a one-score lead.

So all 10 of Malone’s touchdown receptions dramatically changed the game in some way. That is incredibly remarkable and worthy of a ton of recognition, so the 6’3″ junior should at least garner All-SEC recognition.

After all, those are Peerless Price-level game-changing numbers. And we don’t throw Price’s name around lightly considering he’s the greatest playmaker in Tennessee football history.

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