Maybe Syracuse isn’t as Power Four caliber as they were last year, but there’s no denying Tennessee football looked elite in most places Saturday as the Vols beat the Orange 45-26 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta to open the season. Here is our report card for every UT position after a solid start to Josh Heupel’s fifth season on Rocky Top.

Offense

Quarterbacks: B-

Joey Aguilar completed 16 of 28 passes for 247 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions while rushing for 34 yards. However, he had multiple overthrows on easy swing passes in the first quarter, which is why the Vols’ first drive only ended in a field goal, and he had a fumble in the second quarter, which pushed his grade down to just above average.

Running backs: A

Star Thomas, DeSean Bishop and Peyton Lewis combined to rush for 212 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. This would be an A+ grade, but Thomas had a hand in that fumble that Aguilar suffered in the second quarter, as it was due to an exchange between them. As a result, we couldn’t say this performance was flawless, but it was darn close.

Wide receivers: B+

We could have given this unit an A, and it certainly looked better than last year. Braylon Staley had 95 yards and a touchdown, Chris Brazzell II had 62 yards, and Mike Matthews had 29 yards. Outside of that 73-yard scoring strike to Staley, though, there just wasn’t enough from this unit for us to give it an A, so we put it just below that.

Tight ends: B

Miles Kitselman did have two catches for 10 yards, including an eight-yard touchdown reception, but that was really all the tight ends did in the passing game. Now, they had a hand in the successful blocking by this unit that was on display all game, but the lack of involvement through the air is why this unit was only able to generate a B grade.

Offensive line: A+

Four new starters plus David Sanders Jr. being hurt should have caused problems here. Instead, the Tennessee football offensive line didn’t allow a sack, and the Vols paved the way for 247 yards on the ground. Sam Pendleton looked ready at center, and Wendell Moe Jr. was superb on the interior of the offensive line as well.

Overall offensive grade: A

With nine new starters and one of their projected starters injured, the Vols managed to score 45 points and gain 495 yards of total offense. Sure, Josh Heupel prefers 600 yards and to score in the 60s, but his tempo was truly back in this one, and the new wrinkles he had in the offense were clear, so this is an obvious A.

Defense

Defensive line: A

Jaxson Moi went down early with an injury, as did Nathan Robinson. The Tennessee football defensive line still held Syracuse to just 103 yards rushing on 44 carries, though, and created an environment that generated five sacks. Also, Robinson’s injury didn’t come before he forced a fumble that was returned by the Vols into the end zone for a score.

Edge rushers: A

With no James Pearce Jr., the Vols were naturally going to have problems here, but they didn’t show them. Joshua Josephs had seven total tackles, five of which were solo, along with a sack. Jordan Ross added a tackle for a loss and a pass deflection. Both showed they will likely be part of a by-committee system this year instead of Pearce doing all the work.

Linebackers: A

Arion Carter led the team with nine tackles, three of which were solo, and a sack. Jeremiah Telander added four tackles, three solo, a tackle for a loss and an interception. Heck, Edwin Spillman had six tackles, three solo and a sack. That could have warranted an A+ for this unit, but it had a role in some of the coverage issues we’re about to get to.

Defensive backs: C+

Cornerbacks get an A+. Without Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson III getting hurt, Colton Hood and Jalen McMurray were stars. Hood had three pass deflections along with a defensive scored, and McMurray had a sack and tipped the pass Telander intercepted. However, safeties were inconsistent, as was Boo Carter, hence why Steve Angeli did throw for 274 yards. That was the weakness in this one.

Overall defensive grade: B+

Last year’s legendary defense surrendered 4.49 yards per play, and on Saturday, Tennessee football gave up 4.48 yards per play. That’s a great sign of things to come for this unit, but the issues in coverage kept us from being able to truly give this an A-grade. That issue should be resolved once everybody gets healthy, though.

Special teams

Place kicking: A+

There wasn’t much importance in this part of the game, but Max Gilbert did hit all seven of his extra points while also nailing a 34-yard field goal. Every one of Josh Turbyville’s kickoffs went for a touchback too, so the place kicking part of special teams for the Vols was perfect given what was asked of it against the Orange.

Punting: A–

Jordan Ross remains an effective weapon. He punted the ball four times, and despite averaging just 43.8 yards per punt, three of them pinned Syracuse inside the red zone. He did have that one 39-yard punt that spotted Syracuse the ball near midfield, which is why this is an A-, but he followed that up with a 56-yarder.

Return game: C-

Peyton Lewis had a 24-yard kickoff return that spotted the Vols where they would have had the ball even if it was a touchback, and Braylon Staley had a two-yard punt return. As a result, this unit gets more of an incomplete than anything, but based on those two things alone, we have to give it a barely average grade.

Overall special teams grade: A-

There were no issues on this front overall, and punting was a weapon, specifically in the third and fourth quarters when Syracuse was trying to mount a comeback. That’s enough to give Tennessee football an A- in special teams, and it’s easy to see this unit being much better as the season goes on.

Coaching

Offensive play-calling: A+

Heupel and Joey Halzle showed new wrinkles in their offense early, and you could see new offensive analyst Seth Littrell’s impact. If not for some Aguilar overthrows on their first drive and an Aguilar fumble in the second quarter, this team has 56 points. There was nothing to complaing about the Vols’ play-calling on this side of the ball.

Defensive play-calling B+

Tim Banks by and large had a great game plan, but Jeff Nixon got the better of him early. He benefitted from an illegal shift to kill Syracuse’s first drive, and there were some issues with the Orange moving the ball through the air, which is the reason he gets a B+. However, he was still largely elite, and we can’t take too much away from him.

Overall head coaching grade: A

There’s nothing to complain about from the coaching staff. Tennessee football came in with a great game plan, play-calling was superb, and the Vols won this game from a schematic standpoint as much as they did with players. What really pushed this unit over the top was indeed the new offense Heupel and Halzle put on display.