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Tennessee football report card: Grading the Vols on their 2021 season

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) gets his hands on the ball but it falls incomplete in the NCAA college football game between the Tennesse Volunteers and Vanderbilt Commodores in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 27, 2021.Kns Tennessee Vanderbilt Football
Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) gets his hands on the ball but it falls incomplete in the NCAA college football game between the Tennesse Volunteers and Vanderbilt Commodores in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 27, 2021.Kns Tennessee Vanderbilt Football /
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Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) runs for a touchdown during an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Tennessee Tech in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, September 18, 2021.Tennvstt0918 1816
Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) runs for a touchdown during an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Tennessee Tech in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, September 18, 2021.Tennvstt0918 1816 /

Special teams grades

Place kicking: B-

Chase McGrath hit 75 percent of his field goals. He only missed one inside 40 yards and none inside 30 yards, and he was perfect on extra points. That’s all you can ask for. The only reason this grade is down to a B- is Toby Wilson, whose 43.21 touchback percentage on kickoffs was down at No. 79 in the nation. It keeps the grade above average but barely.

Punting: B

With four punts from Kolby Morgan and 45 from Paxton Brooks, Tennessee football was seventh in the league in yards per punt. However, they were second in net yards, and Brooks was fourth in percentage of punts pinned inside the 20. As a result, the unit overall was above average and did more than enough to earn this B.

Return game: A-

Velus Jones Jr. led the league in yards per kickoff return and yards per punt return. He ran a kickoff back for a touchdown. The Vols blocked two punts. You couldn’t ask for a better return game. No punt return touchdown and a muffed punt against the Ole Miss Rebels by Jones are why this is an A- and not an A or A+.

Overall special teams grade: B

Outside of the return game, this wasn’t some notable weapon, but it was effective. As a result, it earns an above average grade for the season, and Vol fans couldn’t really ask for much more than what they got when the focus of this team is scoring on offense.

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