Despite a brutal loss, Tennessee Football had clear performers try to step up and deliver a victory for the Vols. These guys deserve absolutely no blame for the team’s 19-14 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks on the road. It’s because of them UT even had a chance to win. Here are the five torchbearers from Saturday night’s matchup.
5. Bryson Eason
Fans will complain about let the Hogs moving the ball late, but Tennessee Football was tired up front by that point after so little help from the offense for so long. For the most part, the defensive line was elite, and Bryson Eason was the best part of the unit, finishing with two tackles and assisting in a tackle for a loss despite going down with an injury late. Losing him was a big deal UT gave up that late drive.
4. Keenan Pili
Before going down, Taylen Green was playing as well as a quarterback could possibly play. The biggest reason Arkansas couldn’t finish drives, though, was because the Vols linebackers kept containment. Keenan Pili deserves a ton of credit for that, as he finished with 14 tackles, four of which were solo, and for the most part stayed at home.
3. Arion Carter
While Pili stayed at home, Tennessee Football needed Arion Carter to make the big plays, and he was able to do just that, finishing with eight tackles, one and a half tackles for a loss and a pass deflection. Two of those tackles were solo. Carter came extremely close to generating a safety as well. He was all over the field.
2. James Pearce Jr.
Everybody was waiting for James Pearce Jr. to explode, and he brought pressure all night. Pearce had two tackles for a loss, a sack and a pass deflection. He had nine tackles overall, five of which were solo, standing out all over the field. Arkansas’s first touchdown drive of the second half came because he had to be on the bench during that time for rest. Nobody can understate his value.
1. Dylan Sampson
You could give the interior line credit for this, but they struggled in the first half, and Spraggins and Karic made crucial mistakes at times. As a result, Dylan Sampson gets the credit while also getting the yards. Sampson ran hard with 22 carries for 138 yards and two touchdowns and was the one bright spot of the unit. His two scores in the third to put Tennessee Football up 14-3 should’ve clinched it.
