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Tennessee football: Five takeaways from 56-0 win vs. Tennessee Tech

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) runs with the ball during a NCAA football game against Tennessee Tech at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.Kns Tennessee Tenn Tech Football
Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) runs with the ball during a NCAA football game against Tennessee Tech at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.Kns Tennessee Tenn Tech Football /
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Sep 18, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) warming up before the game against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) warming up before the game against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /

1. The quarterback situation isn’t settled.

Joe Milton III was out this game due to injury. Josh Heupel decided to go with Hendon Hooker for the important moments of the game, which included the entire first half and most of the third quarter. In the process, Hooker did some good things and bad things.

Hooker showed that his accuracy is as much a problem as Milton’s, as he missed at least three wide open touchdown passes by overthrowing them, and he underthrew one. Meanwhile, he fumbled two snaps and had another fumble that was lost on a run.

However, Hooker still completed 17-of-25 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns, and he led Tennessee football in rushing with nine carries for 64 yards and a touchdown. He made some nice throws, spread the ball around and was much better on his RPO decisions. The issue, though, is that it came against Tennessee Tech, and those miscues raise even more questions.

Harrison Bailey then came in late, and after failing to do anything on the first drive, he led a touchdown drive on his second possession. However, he had multiple overthrows as well, shocking given the fact that accuracy was his calling card, but also shocking was that he ran for a first down on 4th and 7 despite not being mobile.

Anyway, Bailey finished 3-of-7 for 16 yards. He ran for a touchdown on a great RPO decision that fooled everybody, though. As a result, this game raised more questions than it answered. Josh Heupel has an interesting week of practice before Tennessee football faces Florida next week.

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