7 tackles (4 solo); 1.5 TFL; 1 PD
Sticking with defensive players who had high PFF grades, Jeremy Banks was among the best. Tennessee football’s linebackers all actually did a pretty good job and helped to stop the run. Juwan Mitchell was the leading tackler with eight overall, five of which were solo, and assisting on a tackle for a loss.
However, Mitchell missed Stetson Bennett on that third down touchdown run to put Georgia up 7-3. Aaron Beasley also deserves a shoutout with four solo tackles and a tackle for a loss, to be fair. He just didn’t have Jeremy Banks’ stat line. Overall, Banks was the biggest star of the day for the linebackers, proving his worth as a run stopper.
Banks had a crucial tackle for a loss in the first half to kill one Georgia drive and keep the Vols in the game. He was then in on numerous tackles throughout the game, and his pass deflection was a huge step forward, as he actually performed in coverage, something he has struggled with in the past. Simply put, he did it all.
It was nowhere near enough, but he wasn’t the guy who ever got torched by Georgia’s offense in that first half. A lot of what he did in the second half is what helped the Vols still have chances to come back. Again, their offense just didn’t do anything.