Tennessee football Smokey Points: Top five Vols performers vs. Mississippi State

From a raw stats perspective, it’s hard to find somebody who was more crucial to Tennessee football’s offensive production than Tim Jordan. Although he only averaged three yards a carry, with 19 carries for 59 yards, he had one of two touchdowns on the day, and it was the first one to spot the Vols a 7-0 lead.

On top of that, Jordan had one reception for nine yards. And that reception was the key play of the game. Up 13-10 late and past midfield, the Vols had a 3rd and 6. Jeremy Pruitt did not want to give the Mississippi State Bulldogs the ball back after they had just scored a touchdown, but he also wanted to stick to the ground game.

So Jim Chaney called a play with Jordan as the check-down option. He caught the ball, made one guy miss and then ran for the first down. Two plays later, the Vols scored a touchdown. But if Jordan does not make that play, then there is a very good chance MSU gets the ball late with a chance to win the game or tie it up.

As a result, the conversion and the touchdown are enough for us to put Jordan on this list. He was a critical player for Rocky Top on the day and certainly earned his helmet sticker. As a guy who was behind Ty Chandler and Eric Gray earlier this year, he gets a lot of props.