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Tennessee football report card in 45-42 win at Kentucky

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 6, 2021; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) catches a pass in the end zone putting the Tennessee Volunteers ahead of the Kentucky Wildcats 44-35 during the fourth quarter at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2021; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) catches a pass in the end zone putting the Tennessee Volunteers ahead of the Kentucky Wildcats 44-35 during the fourth quarter at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) congratulates Tennessee running back Jabari Small (2) on a touchdown during an SEC football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. Tennessee defeated Kentucky 45-42.Tennvskentucky1106 2183
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) congratulates Tennessee running back Jabari Small (2) on a touchdown during an SEC football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. Tennessee defeated Kentucky 45-42.Tennvskentucky1106 2183 /

When you scored 45 points against a team that hadn’t allowed more than 31 points all year, you did something right. However, when you allowed 42 points to that same team, there were some deficiencies. In the big picture, though, when you beat a top 20 team on the road, the net result was positive, and that’s the situation Tennessee football is in.

It’s pretty clear with this victory which units were the strong suits and which ones bring concerns. As we get set to give out our report card for the Vols’ huge victory at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky., over the weekend, the gap between units, sometimes on the same side of the ball, will be huge.

Regardless of the issues, though, the Vols are 5-4, 4-3 in the SEC and have effectively assured themselves a winning season with what they were able to do over the weekend. Even with the loss, the Kentucky Wildcats are still 6-3, and that was their first home loss, so UT should celebrate. Here are our grades for Tennessee football in the matchup.

Offensive grades part I

Quarterbacks: A-

There’s no way to overstate how amazing Hendon Hooker was. He completed 15-of-20 passes for 316 yards, four touchdowns and no interception. That’s a 75 percent completion rate and an average of 15.8 yards an attempt. Add in his 11 carries for 41 yards, and he was nearly perfect. Hooker had to get an A-, though, as he had two fumbles. However, he was still elite.

Running backs: A-

Jabari Small and Jaylen Wright combined for 105 yards on just 11 carries. Small had four carries for 55 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown that put Tennessee football up for good. Tiyon Evans added a nine-yard gain on one carry. This unit nearly played perfect too, but Small had a hand in the one fumble Hooker lost. That and Wright causing another one is why it gets an A-.

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