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Tennessee football Smokey points: Top 5 Vols performers vs. ETSU Bucs

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 08: Darrin Kirkland Jr. #34 of the Tennessee Volunteers returns an interception for a touchdown during a game against the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers at Neyland Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennesee won the game 59-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 08: Darrin Kirkland Jr. #34 of the Tennessee Volunteers returns an interception for a touchdown during a game against the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers at Neyland Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennesee won the game 59-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images
Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images /

He was only in on a couple of tackles, and Jeremy Pruitt has actually been turning away from him and towards his freshmen when it comes to cornerbacks. But Marquill Osborne was able to get in on a big enough play to warrant a helmet sticker for the day.

In the first quarter, Tennessee football couldn’t get much going on offense. As a result, they were struggling to pull away from ETSU. And just up 3-0, Osborne made the play to give the Vols the two-score lead they needed.

Osborne blocked a punt and then ran it back for a touchdown. The play gave the Vols a 10-0 lead ahead of going into the locker room with a weather delay. Again, there wasn’t much that Osborne did throughout the day outside of this play.

However, this play was enough to get him on the list. It was one of the key moments to break the game open, and a special teams play like this one always warrants a helmet sticker. The junior finally put his athleticism on display, and that was a huge deal. He was brilliant coming around the edge to make the play. It also helped that he wasn’t blocked, which was crazy.

Had this play not happened, you could see the Vols getting a bit more tense and struggling to put this team away, especially after the weather delay. But the punt block put them in control, so even though it was one play, it warrants Osborne recognition.

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