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Tennessee football’s top five performers in 52-24 loss at Alabama

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) catches a ball over Alabama defensive back Daniel Wright (3) during a football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021.Kns Tennessee Alabama Football Bp
Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) catches a ball over Alabama defensive back Daniel Wright (3) during a football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021.Kns Tennessee Alabama Football Bp /
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Oct 23, 2021; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Brian Robinson Jr. (4) carries the ball in for a touchdown against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2021; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Brian Robinson Jr. (4) carries the ball in for a touchdown against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive lineman. Senior. Matthew Butler. 2. 839. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player

1.5 TFLs, 2 QB hurries, 9 total tackles (4 solo)

For the second straight week, we’re touting Tennessee football’s pass rush in a game, and for the second straight week, Matthew Butler was the catalyst for it. Butler wasn’t able to come away with two sacks like he did against the Ole Miss Rebels, but he still was the guy to get the push up front that created so many big plays.

Also, it’s not like Butler didn’t generate quite a few big plays himself. Coming away with a tackle for a loss and assisting on another is pretty impressive for a defensive tackle with his role, and getting in the quarterback’s face twice is also impressive.

Butler got hurt in the game at one point and still put up this effort. Josh Heupel and Tim Banks had to rely heavily on him throughout the game, and he was one of the guys who just had nothing left in the tank by the time the midway point of the fourth quarter came.

However, that’s not Butler’s fault. The defense just doesn’t have a lot of depth right now, and Butler, as we mentioned, was already banged up. He gave it everything he had for a second straight week. Sure, Bryce Young surprisingly torched the Vols on the ground, but that’s not because of the defensive line. We’ll address that in our blame pie.

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