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Tennessee football vs. UTEP: 5 Vols to watch for against Miners

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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Despite leading the team in receiving each of the past two games, Marquez Callaway has yet to catch a touchdown pass. On top of that, UTEP only allowed 119 passing yards to the UNLV Rebels this past week. So maybe this isn’t the game for Callaway to break out.

Forget about that thought! Callaway is clearly the top playmaker for Tennessee football. He already has 161 yards receiving on 11 receptions, and when Tyson Helton lets him make plays on the deep ball, he showed last week he can clearly do that.

Also, UNLV is a program that uses minimal passing for maximized results. That’s why they had three touchdowns and no interceptions in the passing game last week to go with those 119 yards. They only threw it 14 total times.

With teams that actually use the passing game, UTEP looks to be no better. Against Northern Arizona to open the season, Emmanuel Butler had six receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns with the Lumberjacks.

This team has no chance guarding elite playmakers with proper size at receiver. Callaway is one of those guys, so unless Jarrett Guarantano or Keller Chryst struggle to get him the ball, he’s destined for a big day. Even if he also gets pulled early, it shouldn’t be before quite a few major plays.

It could be Jauan Jennings, Josh Palmer or Brandon Johnson making plays here. Heck, even Jordan Murphy could be a splash guy. But we’re going wth Callaway because of what he’s already shown. And he’s clearly Guarantano’s favorite target at this point.

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