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Tennessee football report card in 45-20 win vs. South Carolina

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receivers Jalin Hyatt (11) and JaVonta Payton (3) celebrate Hyatt's touchdown during the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, October 9, 2021.Utvsc1007
Tennessee wide receivers Jalin Hyatt (11) and JaVonta Payton (3) celebrate Hyatt's touchdown during the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, October 9, 2021.Utvsc1007 /
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Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) looks to pass during an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) looks to pass during an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football /

If we were just grading the first quarter of games, Tennessee football would have close to an A+ across the board. Beating the South Carolina Gamecocks 45-20 is still enough for us to give them quite a few good grades, but being outscored 20-17 after that first quarter is going to count against them to a certain degree.

Regardless, as we get set to deliver another UT report card, it comes with the Vols sitting at 4-2 and 2-1 in the SEC, so they don’t have a lot to be upset about. Dominating an SEC school that isn’t the Vanderbilt Commodores is naturally going to come with high marks as well.

Of course, the grades take into account PFF scores and efficiency along with raw stats. As usual, we’ll grade each position unit and separate the slides by offense, defense, special teams and coaching with two pages for offense. Let’s go ahead and dive in. This is our report card for Tennessee football following the Vols’ win over South Carolina.

Offensive grades part I

Quarterbacks: A-

There’s really not a lot we could say negative about Hendon Hooker given his play. That first quarter may have been the greatest first quarter ever by a Vols quarterback, as he accounted for four total touchdowns nearly 200 total yards.

Finishing the game 17-of-23 for 225 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another 66 yards and one touchdown while not turning the ball over could warrant A+ status. However, Hooker played his part in being sacked six times, and that brought down his grade.

Running backs: A

Although Hooker was the star of the game and built the Vols the lead they needed, Tiyon Evans still did his part. He had 16 carries for 119 yards, averaging nearly seven and a half yards a carry, including a 45-yard touchdown run with no turnovers.

Beyond Evans, Len’Neth Whitehead came in late and played well too. He finished with 10 carries for 41 yards and a key late touchdown to assure Tennessee football would stay in control of the game. Those two together did everything they needed to do.

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