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Tennessee football: Five takeaways from Vols’ 56-0 win at Vanderbilt

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 26, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Walker Merrill (19) celebrates with wide receiver Squirrel White (10) after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Walker Merrill (19) celebrates with wide receiver Squirrel White (10) after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 26, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) runs for a short gain against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) runs for a short gain against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Running game carried the offense.

Four offensive linemen were injured by the end of the game. It didn’t matter. Tennessee football torched Vanderbilt on the ground. As a team, they had 31 carries for 362 yards and six touchdowns. By the way, Joe Milton III, whose mobility was supposed to be a crucial part of this game, didn’t run it once, and they still gained those yards.

Instead, Jabari Small, Jaylen Wright and Dylan Sampson stole the show. Small got the start and carried the ball 11 times for 79 yards and two touchdowns, including a 52-yard touchdown run in the second half. That was the first of four such touchdown runs that half.

Jaylen Wright, who had five carries for 160 yards, had a 50-yard touchdown run and an 83-yard touchdown run. Then Dylan Sampson came in and had an 80-yard touchdown run. He finished the game with 12 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown. All three backs were dominant, and Vandy couldn’t do anything to stop them.

Princeton Fant also got in on the action with a one-yard touchdown run. It was part of a second effort on a 4th and goal play to put the Vols up 14-0. Simply put, UT dominated on the ground, and that’s pretty much how they were able to turn this one into a blowout.

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