A key injury to Tennessee Football didn’t stop the Vols from having quite a few standout performers in their 33-14 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs Saturday night. Sure, it was ugly and bittersweet, and MSU is a bad team, but players who did step up deserve some credit, and we’re going to dish that out here. These are UT’s torchbearers from their victory.
5. Boo Carter
Kevin Coleman Jr. was the best player on Mississippi State as their go-to slot receiver in an offense that was coming together. Boo Carter shut him down. The freshman had a key interception and also came through with a tackle for a loss. He is emerging as one of the most elite players on the field, and his future is clearly bright.
4. Jayson Jenkins
James Pearce Jr., Bryson Eason and Omarr Norman-Lott all came through with sacks, but Jayson Jenkins had the sack of the game, as he forced a fumble that Jeremiah Telander recovered. That came at a crucial time, with Tennessee Football reeling and the injury to Nico Iamaleava confirmed, so Jenkins makes the list for the timing of the play alone.
3. Dylan Sampson
Despite a third fumble in three games, Dylan Sampson still managed 149 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries. He continues to prove himself to be a weapon for the Vols on offense and is also showing that he’s more than capable of being a workhorse. As a result, suffering a fumble, which wasn’t his fault since a helmet was put on the ball, doesn’t outweigh his production.
2. Dont’e Thornton Jr.
Squirrel White came alive with three catches for 63 yards and a touchdown, which came on a fourth down pass, but Dont’e Thornton Jr. was the star for Tennessee Football in the receiving game. Thornton had three catches for 104 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown reception, and helped put UT in control early in the game.
1. Nico Iamaleava
Sure, he missed the second half, but Nico Iamaleava did enough to win the game for Tennessee Football in the first half. Iamaleava went 8-of-13 in the first half for 174 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Before he went out, his play showed the offense finally coming together, and if he stays healthy, he could finally break out in November.
