Tennessee football stock report after Week 9: Vols Running game rising

Stock up

Running game

We have to give credit where credit is due. Tennessee football suffered overall with the loss of Trey Smith, but the interior line improved greatly against the South Carolina Gamecocks. Perhaps it was because South Carolina is not as good of a team as anybody they had faced in weeks. But this part of the Vols was very good on Saturday for whatever reason.

Tim Jordan was able to be effective all game, carrying the ball 12 times for 62 yards, and Ty Chandler adding 11 carries for 54 yards was also huge. But the big news was Carlin Fils-Aime. Three days back on offense, and he had three carries for 20 yards and a touchdown. Even Jarrett Guarantano was able to get in on the action, gaining a net 10 yards despite two sacks. So this team had 144 yards on the ground and a touchdown, which is a huge step forward. Give it credit.

Kickers

These guys are nothing new here. Brent Cimaglia’s stock is so high as a kicker that fans are mad at Jeremy Pruitt for going for it on fourth down in the fourth quarter not trying a 52-yard field goal with him. And that’s for good reason. Cimaglia nailed another 45-yarder this game. He also still hasn’t missed an extra point.

Meanwhile, Joe Doyle was back on his game. The guy only had two punts. But both pinned the Gamecocks inside the 20, and he had an average of over 50 yards on the day. Literally, that’s a perfect performance. Once again, Tennessee football kickers are showing out.