Vols report card for Battle at Bristol win
QUARTERBACK: A-
Joshua Dobbs had no room to operate on Tennessee’s first three possessions. After the Vols found rhythm on offense, Dobbs got to work in the 45-24 victory over Virginia Tech in the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol on Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. He had three passing touchdowns and two rushing scores. He also had a run of 40 yards in the second quarter to help set up a score. Dobbs was intercepted early in the fourth quarter and finished with 91 yards passing.
RUNNING BACK: A
Jalen Hurd had 66 yards on 12 carries in the first half, helping spark Tennessee’s offense. Alvin Kamara, after getting just two touches in the first half last week against Appalachian State, had two rushes for 14 yards in the first half and added a 23-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. Of the 182 yards the Vols had at halftime, 133 came on the ground. Hurd finished with 99 yards rushing on 22 carries.
WIDE RECEIVER/ TIGHT END: A
Josh Malone, who had a 67-yard touchdown pass to save Tennessee in the second half last week against Appalachian State, hauled in a 38-yard touchdown grab to tie the game at 14-all with 9:42 left in the second quarter. Sophomore Jauan Jennings got the Vols on the board with a 5-yard touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone, one play after Micah Abernathy recovered a Virginia Tech fumble.
OFFENSIVE LINE: C+
Tennessee’s front five picked up exactly where it left off after struggling against Appalachian State. The Vols punted on each of their first three possessions, but woke up in time to salvage a decent first half. Virginia Tech’s only sack of the first half came on Tennessee’s opening possession and the Vols later found offensive rhythm on the ground.
DEFENSIVE LINE: B
Derek Barnett provided sustained pressure in the Virginia Tech backfield. The unit suffered some attrition with Jonathan Kongbo and LaTroy Lewis going down in the first quarter. Kongbo returned and made some plays later in the game, but Lewis remained on the sideline.
LINEBACKERS: A
Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Darrin Kirkland Jr. wreaked havoc on the Hokies. One week after being sidelined with an early ejection for targeting on special teams, Reeves-Maybin showed what the Vols were missing defensively. Kirkland Jr. sparked the defense in the second quarter with a sack of Jerod Evans. But Kirkland Jr. was carted off the field with an injury late in the third quarter.
SECONDARY: B
Senior Cam Sutton started the game with a great pass breakup to move up the career charts for passes defended. The defensive backfield jumped on two turnovers as Abernathy recovered a fumble in the second quarter that led to Tennessee’s first touchdown, and Todd Kelly Jr. forced a fumble in the third quarter. The secondary had a few early penalties that extended Virginia Tech drives.
SPECIAL TEAMS: B
Aaron Medley made a 34-yard field goal to give the Vols a lead in the second quarter, but missed a 47-yard field goal in the third quarter. The Vols weren’t able to bust any big returns, but also didn’t allow any game-changing returns. Evan Berry ended the game on the sideline in street clothes.
COACHING: B-
Tennessee was sleepwalking in the first quarter, looking like the same team that struggled to beat Appalachian State in overtime. Credit the coaching staff and players for rallying from a 14-point deficit with 24 unanswered points in the second quarter, but the Vols can’t keep digging holes and climbing out.
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