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Tennessee football Smokey Points: Top 5 Vols performers vs. UTEP Miners

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: Running back Madre London #31 of the Tennessee Volunteers is tackled by the UTEP Miners defense during the second half of the game between the UTEP Miners and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-0. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: Running back Madre London #31 of the Tennessee Volunteers is tackled by the UTEP Miners defense during the second half of the game between the UTEP Miners and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-0. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee football truly has been using four running backs throughout the start of the season, and this time, it was the graduate transfer senior’s turn to finally show what he can do. Madre London and Jeremy Banks are the two power backs in the system, and London was the guy to show out Saturday.

The guy didn’t have a touchdown, but he carried the ball nine times for 74 yards, averaging over eight yards a carry. He also had a one-yard reception, for what it’s worth. But it was his hard running that got him on this list.

When he transferred to UT, analysts expected him to make an immediate impact and be the main power guy. And through three games, he has slowly been getting better. After only 12 yards in the opener against the West Virginia Mountaineers, London had 47 yards and two touchdowns against the ETSU Bucs.

And this week, despite no touchdowns, he really put his talent on display with over eight yards a carry. London was a huge part of the offense being able to move the ball the way it did, even if it wasn’t able to score the way it was supposed to.

With London continuing to emerge, Tyson Helton’s desire for a focus on a power running game is beginning to take shape. That should allow for more deep balls in the future, and London’s play will be crucial to that. It’s hard to gauge if he really showed a trend by improving the last two weeks against such mediocre talent. But he has certainly performed well.

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