Tennessee football Smokey points: Top five Vols performers in 41-21 South Carolina win

It’s well-documented that you don’t know when Darrell Taylor will make a big play. But when he does make a big play, everybody will recognize it. Taylor had two sacks and two pass deflections against the South Carolina Gamecocks. He had four tackles overall, three of which were solo. Not only were two of his three solo tackles sacks, but they were sacks at crucial times.

The first sack came with the Vols down 7-3 and having just been stopped on 4th and goal. Taylor hit Ryan Hilinski for an eight-yard loss to the S.C. 10. That field position was what resulted in their punt being returned for a touchdown on the following play. It all came down to Taylor’s sack. His second sack was even more critical.

In the third quarter, UT had just missed a field goal. South Carolina had a 21-17 lead. But on 3rd an 7, Taylor sacked Hilinski again for a nine-yard loss. The Vols got the ball back and scored the go-ahead touchdown on the following drive thanks to their field position.

Finally, one of Taylor’s pass deflections came later. Jeremy Pruitt’s team had built a 31-21 lead, but South Carolina was driving to make it close. On 4th and 2 at the UT 35, Taylor deflected a Hilinski pass from around the corner. So he made big play after big play. That’s why he’s on the list.