Tennessee set a bushel full of records in a 71-0 win over Kent State on Saturday. The Vols offense ran as freely as the Tennessee River. As for the defense, they were dam impressive in holding back the Golden Flashes.

“We were firing on all cylinders,” Tennessee linebacker Jeremiah Telander said. “Offense, defense, special teams, when you put all three together, that’s what’s going to happen. So it’s a great performance on each unit. So I think we did a great job.”

The Vols were so dominant against Kent State that many of the starters were pulled in the second quarter, including safety Will Brooks. The extra rest should only help the Vols stay fresh when the competition gets much more difficult, beginning with a trip to Oklahoma on Saturday.

“I think it’s a it’s huge to do that,” Brooks said of putting the Golden Flashes away early in order to be as physically ready as possible later in the season. “It was just great that we were able to take our preparation and bring that to the field and play a complete game. 

The Vols haven’t just been dominant against teams like Kent State. Tennessee hasn’t given up an offensive touchdown since the Vanderbilt game in November. That includes a Citrus Bowl win against Iowa and a neutral site game against North Carolina State last week. In all, the Vols haven’t given up an offensive touchdown in a whopping 16 quarters. Telander said the Vols enter every contest hoping to shut out their opponent.

“That’s the mindset for every game,” the sophomore said. “On defense, you want to see that goose egg on the board. We’re going to toss a bagel. That’s the mindset. Don’t let anybody in our end zone, especially when we’re in Neyland. We take that personally.”

The Kent State game certainly could have been overlooked by the Vols. Tennessee was coming off of a 51-10 win over North Carolina State last week when the Wolfpack was ranked No. 24. With a lowly team like Kent State on the schedule, there was reason to overlook the Golden Flashes. That didn’t happen this week in practice.

“We did a great job just locking in on this week and focusing solely on this week and making sure that we were on point with communication, getting lined up right, just everything like that,” Brooks said. “So I think we did a great job focusing in and locking in to be able to play a great game this week.”

The one-sided affair allowed the Vols to empty the bench. That meant linebacker Edwin Spillman took the field for the first time. The freshman registered two tackles in the game. Per several sources to Off The Hook Sports, Spillman has shown some of the most potential among Tennessee’s freshman on the practice field.

What does Telander think of Spillman?

“One of the hardest working people I know and I think he had a great performance,” Telander said. “I was so glad to see him out there and just excited to see everybody out there that second half. It’s so fun watching our boys get out there and have a chance to go play. Edwin Spillman did a great job and he’s been waiting to have his debut.”

Spillman made some plays. However, a more familiar player got things started when middle linebacker Keenan Pili registered a tackle for loss after Kent State endured one of many poor shotgun snaps. That was just a sign of things to come.

“The big thing in the linebacker group is being a tone setter,” Telander said. “And Keenan does that every time. First drive, he goes and makes a big play and that’s just being aware by him. He’s going to have a lot of big plays to come. He’s been a great tone setter for us.”

Things get tougher this week. The Vols open SEC play with a road trip to Oklahoma.

“I think we’re very prepared each week,” Telander said when asked about entering conference play. “We take it week by week. The motto has been ‘Tennessee versus Tennessee.’ So, the battle was against ourself (last week) and I think we’re ready for SEC ball and I can’t wait to go after it next week.”

Telander was the first to share the “Tennessee versus Tennessee” concept, which is surely a coaching tactic from head coach Josh Heupel to keep the Vols focused on their next opponent. That is important when the opposition is incredibly inferior and easy to overlook like Kent State was on Saturday.

“That’s just something Coach Heup has always said,” Telander said. “At the end of the day, you have to look at yourself, the man in the mirror and we’re one team and we can’t beat ourself. So ‘Tennessee versus Tennessee’ and we’ll take it from there.”

Just as Brooks and Telander were about to exit the podium after the game, the two were asked about Heupel’s return to Oklahoma where he was a national championship quarterback, but was then fired as the Sooners’ offensive coordinator. As expected and likely coached to do so, the Vols had a bland answer as Brooks took the lead when both players faced that query.

“I guess I can take this one,” Brooks said, quickly stepping in. “I think, obviously, this is the the next game. So it’s the game that we’re focused on. It’s obviously going to be a big game. They’ve got a great team. So we’re excited for the challenge. We’re ready to face it. We’re going to come prepared and be ready to go.”

It’s hard to doubt that. However, it’s also hard to believe that the Oklahoma game doesn’t mean a little bit more to a team that repeatedly expresses how much they adore their head coach.