OTH Report Card: Tennessee beats Akron 63-6 in Neyland Stadium

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Tennessee beat Akron 63-6 on Saturday. The Vols weren’t perfect, but they got the win and avoided two potential season-altering injuries. Overall, it was a good day.

The grades are in.

Quarterbacks – A

Hendon Hooker came out early with some accuracy issues that shouldn’t have been that surprising. His passes far too often sail beyond his receivers on deep throws. As for the slow start, we saw that last week against Pittsburgh.

Hooker nearly threw an interception early in the game and missed a wide-open receiver for what would have been a touchdown pass before he finally settled down. From that point forward, things were business as usual and business has been good.

Hooker finished the Akron game with 14 completions on 18 attempts for 298 yards and two touchdowns. When Hooker struggled passing early in the game, he offset that with a 27-yard run that sparked Tennessee’s offense.

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Backup Joe Milton III showed off his big arm with a 57-yard touchdown pass to receiver Ramel Keyton in the third quarter. There’s no questioning Milton’s talent. That was one of the prettiest passes of the weekend in all of college football.

Running Backs – A

Running back Jabari Small came out of the gate fast with an 11-yard run, then was sidelined with what looked like a banged up right shoulder. He was done for the night.

Jaylen Wright became the workhorse with Small on the bench. Wright ran the ball 14 times for 72 yards and a touchdown in the first half. More importantly, Wright didn’t fumble the ball after having one in each of Tennessee’s first two games.

With Small on the bench, there were more opportunities for other Tennessee ball carriers. Dylan Sampson took advantage. The freshman was explosive and looks like a great option if something happens to Hyatt or Small. In fact, Sampson needs to be a part of the game plan no matter what Tennessee’s top two tailbacks are doing.

Receivers/Tight Ends – A+

Look a Squirrel!

Tennessee receiver Squirrel White got the Vols going with a 47-yard reception after some missed opportunities early. Jalin Hyatt caught a 57-yard pass as he was wide open streaking down the sideline. Forget the fact that Hooker’s pass was underthrown. The play ended in a touchdown.

It was Hyatt’s night. The junior caught a 48-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. He also caught a 47-yard pass in the third quarter. Tennessee utilized Hyatt in the slot to perfection.

Cedric Tillman avoided a fumble just barely. He was ruled down after review when he lost the ball following a reception in the second quarter. Down or not, the ball handling was not good. On the following play, Tillman was forced from the game with what appeared to be a left leg injury.

Bru McCoy was called for two penalties in the first quarter. Both were very questionable. He still flashes some incredible skill with the ball in his hands.

Jimmy Calloway was thrown out of the game after throwing a series of punches against an Akron defensive back in the third quarter. It was a rather odd play that won’t endear him to Tennessee’s coaches against better opponents in clutch situations.

Walker Merrill caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Milton.

Offensive Line – B

There was some pressure in the first quarter that Tennessee’s coaches probably weren’t real happy about. However, it’s important to remember that the Zips were going to come out fired up and they did. That didn’t last long.

Hooker helped overcome a bad snap in the first half. The Vols averaged 6.6-yards per carry and allowed one sack when the game was somewhat in question. It wasn’t perfect, but Tennessee’s performance up front was more than adequate.

Defensive Line – A

Pass rusher Byron Young forced a three-and-out with a key quarterback pressure on the Zips’ first drive. Tyler Baron was called for a questionable penalty in the second half for roughing the passer. Tennessee provided consistent pressure throughout the game.

The Zips averaged just two-yards per carry before the mass substitutions began. Clearly, Tennessee dominated defensively up front as they should have. Elijah Herring registered two sacks. James Pearce Jr., also had a sack. The defensive line also opened up things for the second level, which leads us to Tennessee’s linebackers.

Linebackers – A

Jeremy Banks showed off his explosiveness with a sack in the first quarter in which he tore through the Zips’ offensive line for a tackle for a loss. Banks also made a solid tackle when Akron was nearing the goal line in the second quarter. Banks wasn’t done. On the following play, he hammered Zips’ running back Daniel George, which resulted in a fumble recovered by Latrell Bumphus.

Tennessee’s defense has been great this season. Banks can take them to another level. The Vols will need that next week against Florida. Bryson Eason registered a sack against the Zips.

Secondary – A

Akron quarterback D.J. Irons struggled to find open receivers early in the game. Nothing really changed even when the Vols played less experienced players. Irons has some ability, but there was clearly a mismatch when it came to Akron’s receivers against the Vols’ defensive backs. Kamal Hadden nearly hauled in an interception in the third quarter that would have prevented Akron from kicking a field goal.

Special Teams – B

After a woeful performance against Pittsburgh, the Vols’ special teams were bound to be much better this week. They were. Tennessee nearly blocked a punt on Akron’s first drive. In an odd move, Travon Flowers seemed to fake a fair catch signal on that play.

The Vols were just fine on special teams and, after the Pitt game, they’ll take that. Hopefully for Tennessee, special teams mistakes were left in Pennsylvania. Could Tennessee’s special teams be an asset this season? That’s the next step.

Something to keep in mind, White nearly broke a punt return for a touchdown and looked as natural as, well, a squirrel in a tree.

Coaching – A

Tennessee didn’t begin well for the second time this season, but that’s nitpicking. A slow start against Pitt made some sense, but the very beginning of the Akron game was a bit of a head scratcher.

The Vols were aggressive on fourth downs against Akron. Tennessee converted four-of-four fourth down attempts in the game. That’s not easy to say or write.

Tennessee ran a speed option on two fourth-down attempts. By the nature of their up-temp offense, Tennessee should be able surprise teams on fourth down. That could pay big dividends later in the season.

Perhaps hearing critics call for more pass plays over the middle, Hyatt’s 48-yard reception for a touchdown in the second quarter came off of a slant route. That should give future opponents something to think about.