Tennessee football Smokey Points: Top 5 Vols performers vs. Kentucky

KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10: Darrell Taylor #19 of the Tennessee Volunteers gets a strip sack from Terry Wilson #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half of the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-7. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

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Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images /

Marquill Osborne made the list specifically for his stat line. He didn’t have any critical plays that changed the game, but the guy was still a huge part of Tennessee football’s win. Whenever you come away with two interceptions, you belong on the list.

And let’s be clear about something: those interceptions weren’t meaningless. Sure, they both came in the fourth quarter with the Vols holding a 24-7 lead already. But the Kentucky Wildcats could’ve gotten back in the game without those mistakes.

Madre London’s fumble gave UK the ball with just over seven minutes left in the fourth, and we’ve seen 17-point comebacks within that time before. So when They got to the Tennessee 24-yard line and had a 3rd and 4, there was reason for concern.

But that interception by Osborne sealed the deal for the Vols. The second one was just icing on the cake, but it gave Osborne the stat line and key plays necessary to make our list of Smokey Point winners on the day.

You also have to give him credit for playing in the game all day, meaning he did his part to contain Terry Wilson and the offense, which can be explosive at times. After all, Osborne also had a pass break up. And Wilson only had 172 yards passing despite 34 attempts.

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