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Tennessee football report card in 56-0 win vs. Tennessee Tech

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee running back Tiyon Evans (8) dives into the end zone 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 running back Tiyon Evans (8) dives into the end zone 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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Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) fakes the handoff to Tennessee running back Tiyon Evans (8) 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 quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) fakes the handoff to Tennessee running back Tiyon Evans (8) during a NCAA football game against Tennessee Tech at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.Kns Tennessee Tenn Tech Football /

Obviously, whenever you face an FCS team, lots of positions units are going to look great. That was the case for Tennessee football as the Vols shut out the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 56-0. They moved to 2-1 and did a lot of things right, but you have to take it with a grain of salt.

As we get set to dish out our grades for Rocky Top in this game, we’re going to take all of that into account. Even with those factors, though, there were some units who still deserve praise. Also, some looked bad despite their advantage, and those grades were the easiest to get out.

Just as we usually do, we’ll have two slides for offense, and then one for defense, special teams and coaching. Here is our report card for Tennessee football following its blowout victory against TTU on Saturday.

Offensive grades part I

Quarterbacks: B-

Hendon Hooker had multiple overthrows in the game, and he fumbled twice, losing one of them. Harrison Bailey came in and showed why he isn’t starting, as he overthrew multiple passes as well. Without Joe Milton III, the Vols didn’t look much better at times. However, impressive plays by Hooker allow this grade to be above average.

For the game, Hooker was 17-of-25 for 199 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also had nine carries for 64 yards and a fourth touchdown. There was an epic 22-yard run to set up a score and another TD run. Bailey was only 3-of-7 for 16 yards, but he also had an epic run on a 4th and 7 to keep a drive alive, and he ran for a score. So collectively, the unit was fine.

Running backs: D+

This isn’t weighted because the running backs played a bad team. They had a bad game. Jaylen Wright had nine carries for 43 yards, but Tiyon Evans only had 41 yards on 15 carries. Len’neth Whitehead and Marcus Pierce Jr. both had 23 yards on five carries.

That means the backs combined to have 130 yards, but it was on 34 carries, less than four yards a carry. Evans and Wright each had one catch for three and two yards respectively. The only reason this isn’t a failing grade is because they both had touchdowns.

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