Being recognized as a torchbearer against the Alabama Crimson Tide is always special for Tennessee Football, and certain players from the Vols turned in memorable enough performances in their 24-17 victory over Bama Saturday to never forget. They will tell their grandchildren about it. Here are the five UT players who delivered such games.
5. Dylan Sampson
If not for his fumble on the first drive of the game, Dylan Sampson may be No. 1 on this list. Once again, he rushed for two touchdowns and went for over 100 yards, carrying the ball 26 times for 139 yards. Sampson tied Reggie Cobb for the second most touchdowns in a single-season in UT history as well, and he’s still got another whole month to go.
4. Jermod McCoy
Rocky Top has a lockdown cornerback, and we keep saying it every week. Jermod McCoy is special for Tennessee Football. In this game, McCoy had a key red zone interception on Ryan Williams in one-on-one coverage. That may have been the play of the game. Although McCoy gave up a couple plays and had a penalty, he had a difficult task, so that pick still puts him on the list.
3. Will Brooks
Honestly, McCoy being trusted on an island is why Will Brooks was able to make this list. The linebackers deserve credit in Jeremiah Telander and Arion Carter, as do Andre Turrentine and Boo Carter. They all took away Jalen Milroe’s running lanes, forcing him to throw from the pocket, which made him awful. However, Brooks was the leader, and he had the game-sealing interception, so he gets the recognition.
2. Dominic Bailey
Tyre West has been the bigger star for Tennessee Football in that hybrid defensive line role, but Dominic Bailey was the face of the Vols owning the line of scrimmage in this one. Omari Thomas, Omarr Norman-Lott and Jaxson Moi, the usual suspects, also deserve credit. Bailey, though, had a sack and assisted on a tackle for a loss while hurrying the quarterback three times.
1. James Pearce Jr.
Both James Pearce Jr. and Joshua Josephs kept Milroe in check and came away with three hurries, but Pearce was the star of the two, coming away with one and a half sacks. He continues to blow up offensive plays, which makes him a major asset for the Tennessee Football defense, and UT won the line of scrimmage largely because of his presence, so he is the torchbearer of the game.
