If you had any reservations about Tennessee’s defense, forget it.
The Vols smothered North Carolina State’s rushing attack, harassed quarterback Grayson McCall and stifled the Wolfpack’s attack in a lop-sided 51-10 victory Saturday night in Charlotte over the 22nd-ranked team in the country.
And a UT secondary that many questioned entering the season allowed just 104 passing yards and turned in a pick six as safety Will Brooks went 85 yards for UT’s second touchdown of the game.
Tennessee made a mockery of the 9-point spread by scoring at least 50 points in back-to-back games to open a season for the first time since 1914.
The Vols made NC State look inept on offense, allowing just 39 rushing yards on 28 attempts, and surrendering just 143 total yards on 50 snaps.
After the Wolfpack converted three straight third downs on their opening drive, they went 0-for-9 thereafter.
Not only did Tennessee score a defensive touchdown, it gave the offense the ball on the NC State 44, 22, 34, 24, 34 and 40. The Vols turned that into just 20 points, but it didn’t matter.
UT’s defense wasn’t about to let the Wolfpack back in the game. NC State started the second half with a fumble, failure on fourth down, another fumble, another failure on fourth down.
By then, the Vols led by 34 points.
“Defensively, man, an elite performance,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said. “Tight coverage, pressure on the quarterback, 143 yards (allowed). As good a performance as I’ve been around.
“There wasn’t a lot they could do tonight,” Heupel said of the Wolfpack.
No there wasn’t.
“We just wanted to come out here with our hair on fire,” said defensive tackle Bryson Eason. “We wanted to dominate the line of scrimmage.”
Mission accomplished.
“Absolutely destroyed the line of scrimmage,” said a giddy Heupel after his team made quite a statement against a ranked opponent.
No play was bigger than Brooks’ pick six in the second quarter that extended Tennessee’s lead to 17-3. It was set up when edge rusher Joshua Josephs forced McCall into an awkward throw.
“Yeah, man, you keep investing and good things happen,” Heupel said of Brooks, a redshirt senior walk-on who earned a starting job this season. “How about that stiff arm, a little hurdle, and he gone, baby.
“He’s special. Great teammate. Great leader. Absolutely love that guy.”
Heupel is also fond of running back Dylan Sampson, who rushed 20 times for 132 yards and two scores and caught three passes for 37 yards.
“D-Sampson is different, he’s special”, Heupel said. “He’s great in pass pro, he’s running routes like a wideout. He’s an elite player.”
Heupel was proud of the fact that UT ran well against a loaded box. The Vols had 247 yards on 44 attempts, including a 31-yard touchdown run by quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
“That 3-3 defense is different,” Sampson said. “The holes are smaller, so you have to be patient. I took what they gave me.”
Iamaleava had a solid outing: 16 of 23 for 211 yards and touchdown passes to tight ends Mile Kitselman and Holden Staes. Iamaleava added 65 yards on eight runs and a score. But he had two interceptions.
“Other than two throws, a great performance,” Heupel said of Iamaleava.
One of Iamaleava’s interceptions was returned 87 yards for a touchdown when he was hit as he threw.
“We got a chance to see him respond to a bad play,” Heupel said of Iamaleava. “His demeanor, how would he handle those moments when everything feels like it’s falling in on you, on the road. Can you cut it loose and play next play independently? It’s really the trait that defines him.”
What defined Tennessee’s dominating performance against the Wolfpack was a relentless defense.
A defense that makes earning a College Football Playoff berth appear more likely than not.
