There were plenty of memorable plays in Tennessee’s win over Florida. Ramel Keyton’s diving reception is certainly near the top of the list.
Keyton had to use every bit of his athleticism to reel in a reception from quarterback Hendon Hooker. That catch turned out to be a big play in a key drive, which ended in a touchdown to end the first half.
Has Keyton gone back and watched the play since Saturday? Duh, yeah. It was one of the most played highlights of the weekend in the most watched game on Saturday according to various television ratings.
“I watched it a lot,” the senior from Marietta, Ga., said. “Going through the play, I got a clean release, it was a speed release…When the ball was in the air, I really wasn’t trying to dive for it. I was trying to run under it, but I saw the flight of the ball was going a little far, so I just stretched out for it. Then, I just lugged it in.
“I catch a lot of deep balls, like after practice and over the summer, so you can kind of tell the different flights of the ball. Just repping that. Catching the ball and lugging it in, practicing things like that.”
It almost seems as if Keyton is saying one of the most electric moments in college football last weekend was routine. Perhaps the Vols are turning in those sorts of plays in practice everyday after the media is escorted off the field. It sure seems that way. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel suggested as much, that Keyton and Hooker have the chemistry to pull off the incredible on a routine basis.
“Ramel’s catch was a great example, but that’s just one play that he made on Saturday,” Heupel said. “The greatest tribute you can give to him is, there wasn’t anything that was different about what we did. You can see the trust that Hendon had in him and when the ball went his way, he came away with it and made plays.”
That play wouldn’t have likely happened last season. Hooker was in a battle with current backup Joe Milton III before the 2021 season. That made practice snaps between Hooker and any UT receiver limited. With Hooker entrenched as the starter during this past offseason, he and Keyton had more time to develop a connection.
“This year, this offseason, everyone was really working together and really putting the time in,” Keyton said. “It’s just natural for any quarterback to throw to any receiver. It just makes it better.”
One Response
Wow! Love this offence and the players and coaches that make things happen on the FB field. It is a long way from the old single wing offense that won lots of games on Shields-Watkins field with the Gen. watching.