Tennessee football: Top five Vols performers in 42-17 win at Vanderbilt
2. 839. Pick Analysis. Junior. Scouting Report. Defensive back. Bryce Thompson. player
1 pick-six; 2 tackles (2 solo)
Honestly, Tennessee football’s secondary wasn’t great in this game either. The pass rush put Ken Seals under pressure all night, but we didn’t shout anybody out from that unit given the fact that the Vanderbilt Commodores were so depleted on the offensive line. UT should have been able to get pressure on Seals the way it did.
Even under pressure, though, Seals completed 22-of-39 passes for 239 yards and 2 touchdown. He also had an interception. That interception, though, completely changed the momentum of the game in the first half.
Down 10-7, the Vols had just been forced to punt. It was embarrassing for them to let the ‘Dores have the lead with the ball. Well, Bryce Thompson made sure to snuff that out quickly with the play of the day. Thompson picked off a pass from Seals with one hand and ran it into the end zone for a touchdown.
That play put UT up for good, and it also was Thompson’s first pick-six. He now has 8 interceptions on the year, and he’s one more away from matching what he has done each of his first two seasons. For that play alone, he belongs on this list. It changed everything on Saturday.