It would seem hard to find elite performers in such a humiliating loss like what Tennessee Football suffered Saturday to the Missouri Tigers on the road. However, the Vols had plenty of chances to make it a game thanks to lots of big plays from specific players. Five of them were able to earn torchbearer awards in UT’s 36-7 loss at Mizzou.
5. Joe Milton III
Not keeping it on enough read plays, a couple of misses late and the pick-six all count against Joe Milton III. However, he was moving the ball the whole game. Tennessee Football had three drives stall because of holding penalties not on him, and another was due to a Jaylen Wright fumble. Milton still finished 22-of-34 for 267 yards and a touchdown, and he led the team in rushing with 36 yards.
4. Jaylen McCollough
Despite Brady Cook having a very efficient day throwing the ball, it was almost all on underneath routes outside of one busted play. Jaylen McCollough and Wesley Walker were responsible for plays over the top, and honestly, Tennessee Football didn’t give up too many of those. McCollough also had an interception on the opening drive, so he makes the list.
3. Dont’e Thornton
What would the Vols have done in the game had Dont’e Thornton not gotten hurt? He shut up every critic by scoring their one touchdown of the game, a 46-yard pass from Milton. The catch was incredible, and it was on a third down play. He got hurt on the catch too, so he never returned, but that amazing play was enough to put him on the list.
2. Omarr Norman-Lott
Although Mizzou ran the ball down the Vols’ throats, the edge rushers and linebackers are at fault for that because they were never in position. You can’t put too much on the defensive tackles. Omarr Norman-Lott, meanwhile, was a playmaker there, as he came away with two sacks on the day. James Pearce Jr. also had a sack, but Norman-Lott was better.
1. Jackson Ross
We don’t have to qualify anything Jackson Ross did. Tennessee Football is back to being Punter U with his leg, as he was the one bright spot all day for the Vols. Ross averaged 43.7 yards per punt on six punts and pinned three inside the 20-yard line, two inside the two-yard line. Although the Vols usually didn’t take advantage, he deserves major props.
