Tag: Tennessee Volunteers

Nov 19, 2022; Berkeley, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal defensive lineman Jaxson Moi (51) tackles California Golden Bears running back Jaydn Ott (6) during the fourth quarter at FTX Field at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Former Stanford DT Jaxson Moi transferring to Tennessee

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former Stanford defensive lineman Jaxson Moi said Sunday that he is transferring to Tennessee.

A 6-foot-2, 303-pound sophomore, Moi entered the transfer portal on Dec. 31. He made official visits to Washington and Arizona, which each have had replaced head coaches since the season ended, before visiting Knoxville, Tenn., this weekend.

Last season, Moi played in all 12 games (seven starts) and made 15 tackles, including one tackle for loss and one-half sack, as well as one pass deflection.

As a freshman in 2022, Moi played in all 12 games and started one at defensive tackle. He recorded 22 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss, one-half sack, one quarterback hurry and two pass deflections.

Moi, whose father Junior Moi played football at Southern California, is from Oceanside, Calif., and was a three-star recruit by the 247Sports Composite out of Cathedral Catholic in San Diego in the Class of 2022.

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2023; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) passes the ball against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa sets sights on Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee in Citrus Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

A quarterback making his first career start would not likely list Iowa among ideal opening opponents.

But that’s the reality for Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava as he leads the No. 21 Volunteers against the No. 17 Hawkeyes in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day at Orlando.

Sixth-year senior Joe Milton III opted out of the Citrus Bowl on Wednesday, which elevated the highly touted Iamaleava into the starting role.

Iamaleava attempted 26 passes as a freshman this season and attempts to solve an Iowa defense that entered the bowl season ranked fourth in scoring defense (13.2 points per game) and fifth in total defense (274.8 yards per game).

“I finally get to go out there and showcase my talents as a starter. It should be fun,” Iamaleava said.

“It’s my first start and it’s going against a top-5 defense, I’m ready for the challenge. And I’m ready to go out there and compete with my brothers.”

Tennessee (8-4) is averaging 31.5 points per game but certainly will be hard-pressed to approach that output with Milton and running backs Jaylen Wright (1,013 rushing yards) and Jabari Small (475) all skipping the game. Dylan Sampson (471 rushing, team-high eight total touchdowns) will be the main back.

Meanwhile, Iowa (10-3) allowed 16 or fewer points in 11 of its 13 games and allowed one touchdown or less 10 times. The stellar performance earned defensive coordinator Phil Parker the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach.

Parker is in his 12th season as defensive coordinator and his 25th campaign on the Hawkeyes’ staff.

“He is one of a kind, and I am so happy that he has been by my side in this program throughout the past 25 years,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said.

Star linebacker Jay Higgins has 155 tackles, second nationally, and needs 17 to pass Andre Jackson (171 in 1972) as Iowa’s single-season leader.

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel has broken down the Hawkeyes’ defense and is impressed.

“It’s not just the numbers that say they’ve got a really good defense, you can watch the film. They’re dialed in,” Heupel said. “They make you earn it. They don’t give up a bunch of big plays, that’s in the pass game and in the run game.

“They’re really good on third downs, getting off the football field. They adjust during the course of the ball game extremely well to the things that they’re seeing.”

Higgins also supplied great news to the Hawkeyes by announcing he will return in 2024. Iowa safety Sebastian Castro (team-best three interceptions) said he will announce his decision “a day or two after the game.”

Castro also said that facing Iamaleava instead of Milton doesn’t affect the Hawkeyes’ preparations.

“The game plan not’s changing,” Castro said. “They spread out, and they like to throw the ball.”

The Volunteers’ four losses came by an average of 21 points despite the fact they allow just 22 points per game.

The defense gave up 98 points over the last three games but could get well quickly against an Iowa offense that was shut out twice and scored 20 or fewer points nine times. The Hawkeyes average just 16.6 points and 239.3 yards per game.

Offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, son of the head coach, will be running the offense for the final time after the school announced this would be his final season in late October.

Quarterback Deacon Hill has passed for 1,096 yards, five touchdowns and six interceptions since replacing Cade McNamara, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in Iowa’s fifth game.

The Hawkeyes don’t have a single player with 30 receptions or 300 receiving yards.

Iowa is 18-16-1 in bowl games and has won four of its last five. The Volunteers are 29-25.

This is the fourth all-time meeting. Tennessee holds a 2-1 edge and won the last meeting, 45-28 in the TaxSlayer Bowl (Gator Bowl) following the 2014 season.

–Field Level Media

Georgia tight end Brock Bowers (19) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of a NCAA college football game against Ole Miss in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Georgia won 52-17.

History at stake as No. 1 Georgia visits No. 18 Tennessee

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No. 1 Georgia will try to make history when it visits No. 18 Tennessee in a Southeastern Conference showdown on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville, Tenn.

Georgia (10-0, 7-0) has won a school-record 27 consecutive games since the end of the 2021 campaign. A win this weekend would move the Bulldogs into a tie for the longest winning streak in SEC history, joining Alabama from 1978-80 and 1991-93.

This week, the Bulldogs also jumped Ohio State for the top spot in the College Football Playoff rankings.

“Rare air,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “Those (Alabama teams) are guys I grew up watching as a little kid growing up in Alabama, with my dad being a high school coach.

“A lot of the credit goes to the people that come to this university and play, the players that made those sacrifices, the players who helped win those games. … It’s just all these guys that made sacrifices to do this and make it special.”

Tennessee (7-3, 3-3) would love to spoil the Bulldogs’ dream run. The Volunteers return home to Neyland Stadium, where they have won 14 consecutive games.

The Volunteers fell five spots in the CFP rankings after losing 36-7 to then-No. 14 Missouri on the road last weekend. Tennessee trailed 13-7 at the break and was outscored 23-0 in the second half.

For Volunteers coach Josh Heupel, this week presents an opportunity to erase the ill taste of the loss.

“A lot to learn from,” Heupel said. “At the same time, you’ve got to wash it. Whether you win or lose and you’ve got to move on to the next one. …

“We understand the quality of the opponent that’s coming to town this week. Our guys understand who they are, what they’re about, the way that they’re going to play. It’s going to be a great test for us.”

It has been a one-sided rivalry in recent years. Georgia has won six straight games against Tennessee, which last knocked off the Bulldogs in 2016 in Athens, Ga.

This year’s Georgia squad is led on offense by quarterback Carson Beck, who has passed for 3,022 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. Beck’s top target is tight end Brock Bowers, who returned from injury last week and who leads the team with 44 catches for 601 yards and five touchdowns.

On the ground, Daijun Edwards paces Georgia with 691 rushing yards and 10 scores.

Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III will try to keep pace with Georgia’s high-potent offense. He has passed for 2,283 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions this season.

Volunteers wideout Squirrel White has a team-high 49 catches for 609 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Jaylen Wright has amassed 848 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

On defense, Georgia has the edge.

The Bulldogs have allowed 289.2 yards per game, which ranks ninth in the nation. The Volunteers have given up 340.6 yards per game, which ranks No. 39.

A fast start helped Georgia in the team’s most recent meeting last year. The Bulldogs jumped to a 24-6 lead at halftime and held on for a 27-13 victory in Athens.

–Field Level Media

Sep 2, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (1) and wide receiver Squirrel White (10) before the game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Vols WR Dont’e Thornton (leg) out for regular season

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Tennessee wide receiver Dont’e Thornton will miss the remainder of the regular season with a leg injury.

The Volunteers (7-3, 3-3 SEC) have two home games left against Georgia on Saturday and Vanderbilt on Nov. 25.

Thornton, a 6-foot-5 junior who transferred from Oregon, could return in time for a bowl game.

He injured his lower right leg during Saturday’s 36-7 loss to Missouri, Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said Monday.

“Dont’e will be out for the remainder of the regular season,” Heupel said. “We’ll see where we’re at as we get into postseason play.”

Thornton has 13 receptions for 224 yards and one touchdown in nine games this season.

The Volunteers lost wide receiver Bru McCoy to a season-ending ankle injury in a Sept. 30 win over South Carolina.

–Field Level Media

Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III (7) runs with the ball during NCAA college football game against Missouri on Saturday, November 11, 2023 in Columbia, MO.

Cody Schrader helps No. 14 Missouri stomp No. 13 Tennessee

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Cody Schrader accumulated 321 yards of total offense and rushed for a touchdown as No. 14 Missouri defeated No. 13 Tennessee 36-7 on Saturday in Southeastern Conference at Columbia, Mo.

Schrader rushed for 205 yards on 35 carries and caught five passes for 116 yards for Missouri (8-2, 4-2 SEC).

Brady Cook completed 18 of 24 passes for 275 yards, one touchdown and one interception for the Tigers. He also rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown.

Harrison Mevis kicked field goals of 31, 46 and 23 yards for Missouri, which snapped a four-game losing streak against Tennessee.

Joe Milton III completed 22 of 34 passes for 267 yards, one touchdown and one interception for the Volunteers (7-3, 3-3)

Missouri outgained Tennessee 255-83 on the ground and 530-350 in total yardage.

In the scoreless first quarter, Missouri outgained Tennessee 138-6. But Cook threw an interception on the Tigers’ first possession, then their second possession resulted in Mevis’ 31-yard field goal 44 seconds into the second quarter.

Less than two minutes later, Milton’s 46-yard touchdown pass to Dont’e Thornton Jr. put Tennessee up 7-3.

The Tigers countered with a 75-yard TD drive, fueled by Schrader’s 43-yard reception and capped by his 7-yard scoring run.

The Volunteers moved into scoring range late in the half, but Jaylen Wright fumbled with 20 seconds left. Missouri moved 53 yards — with 35 coming on another Schrader run — to increase its lead to 13-7 on Mevis’ 46-yard field goal.

The Tigers boosted its margin to 19-7 with an 80-yard drive. Cook’s 48-yard pass to Marquis Johnson got it started, then Cook’s 3-yard touchdown run finished it with 10:04 left in the third quarter.

Missouri failed on its two-point conversion bid, but it got another defensive stop to make it 22-7 on Mevis’ 23-yard field goal.

In the fourth quarter, the Tigers pushed their lead to 29-7 with a 66-yard TD drive, capped by Cook’s 21-yard pass to Luther Burden III.

Daylan Carnell’s touchdown interception return of 38 yards with 5:50 to play left made it 36-7.

–Field Level Media

Oct 28, 2023; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joe Milton III (7) runs the ball during the third quarter against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

No. 17 Tennessee looks to avoid trap game vs. UConn

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No. 17 Tennessee is favored to win by five touchdowns, according to BetMGM, on Saturday against visiting UConn, which always seems to fall one touchdown short.

The Volunteers (6-2) take a break from Southeastern Conference play after collecting their first road victory of the season last Saturday with a 33-27 win at Kentucky.

The independent Huskies (1-7) travel to Knoxville after suffering their fourth loss by seven or fewer points this season in a 21-14 setback at Boston College last Saturday.

“I want to win, No. 1. That’s always the message,” second-year UConn coach Jim Mora told the Hartford Courant.

“Win, but do what’s necessary to win. It’s maintaining the mindset that they’ve got right now, which is toughness, resilience, fight, hunger. Staying together, not pointing the finger at anybody but yourself. Figuring it out, how can I be better every moment, every day? That’s what I want to see.”

UConn scored the game’s first and last touchdowns against Boston College and didn’t commit any turnovers, but the defense simply couldn’t stop the run. The Eagles rushed for 246 yards and held possession for nearly 41 minutes.

Camryn Edwards ran for 89 yards and a touchdown and Ta’Quan Roberson completed 11 of 24 passes for 130 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions to lead the Huskies, who experienced similar close losses to South Florida (24-21), Utah State (34-33) and Florida International (24-17).

UConn’s only win came on the road with a 38-31 victory at Rice on Oct. 7, fueled by four Owls turnovers and two touchdown passes by Roberson.

After squandering a 20-7 halftime lead in a 34-20 loss at Alabama on Oct. 21, Tennessee took a 23-17 advantage into the intermission at Kentucky and held on for the six-point win.

Joe Milton III passed for 228 yards and a touchdown, Jaylen Wright and Dylan Sampson each ran for TDs and Charles Campbell kicked four field goals against the Wildcats.

“Joe was uber efficient, great with his eyes, good fundamentally and extremely accurate with the football,” Vols coach Josh Heupel said Monday. “It was a really good performance by him.”

Milton is completing 64.8 percent of his passes this season with 13 touchdowns and just four interceptions in eight games.

Heupel said he was concerned that the Tennessee defense recorded only one sack against Kentucky.

“We gotta do a great job of applying pressure to the quarterback, having not gotten home here much over the last couple of weeks,” Heupel said. “So that’ll be important.”

This is the first meeting between Tennessee and UConn. The Volunteers will look to avoid a trap with upcoming games at Missouri on Nov. 11 and at home against No. 2 Georgia on Nov. 18.

Tennessee linebacker Keenan Pili will miss his eighth straight game since sustaining an upper-body injury against Virginia in the season opener. Heupel said he is still hopeful the BYU transfer will get back on the field this season.

–Field Level Media

Sep 30, 2023; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Squirrel White (10) runs the ball against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Texas A&M brings dynamic defense to No. 19 Tennessee

Posted on | by Field Level Media

As Week 7 arrives for Southeastern Conference teams, Texas A&M and No. 19 Tennessee have reached the must-win portion of their schedules.

Meeting for the first time since 2020 and only the fifth time overall, the Aggies (4-2, 2-1) will visit the Volunteers (4-1, 1-1) on Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn.

Coming off a bye week following a 41-20 home blowout of South Carolina on Sept. 30, Tennessee has little margin for error as Texas A&M makes just its second trip to Rocky Top.

The win over the Gamecocks was tainted by the season-ending loss of reliable receiver Bru McCoy, who made a crucial catch before the last-second, game-winning field goal in last year’s 52-49 win over No. 3 Alabama.

However, Volunteers coach Josh Heupel said defense will be the key against the Aggies.

Tennessee and Texas A&M rank 1-2 in the country in average sacks per game, with the Vols topping the stat with 22 in five outings (4.4 per game) while the Aggies have 26 in six (4.3).

“Guys are playing violent, they’re disruptive, they’re jumping the football and winning one-on-one battles,” Heupel, the third-year Vols coach, said Monday. “We’re going to continue to need that. All offseason a point of emphasis for us was the ability to apply pressure to the quarterback, not just with (blitz) pressure, and our guys have done a good job.”

Texas A&M brings the nation’s 10th-ranked defense to Neyland Stadium, allowing just 268.8 yards per contest.

In its final two September games, the Aggies posted 30 tackles for loss — 15 each against Auburn and Arkansas in season-high-tying performances.

However, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe torched the Aggies for 321 yards and three touchdown passes in the Crimson Tide’s 26-20 win last Saturday at College Station.

Also of note is coach Jimbo Fisher’s dismal record in true road games since his 2018 arrival at Texas A&M: 7-14, with his best away campaign coming in COVID-affected 2020 when the Aggies won four of five.

One of those was a 34-13 triumph in Knoxville in front of just 22,645 fans in the teams’ regular-season finale.

Still, Fisher said he has not changed his approach in hitting the road in the competitive conference.

“What you approach is your maturity and how you practice,” Fisher said Monday. “Mature teams play well on the road. Mature teams that are confident and trust in things and believe in themselves. When you’re on the road in this league, it’s hard. Tennessee is one of those hard places, but hopefully your maturity will help.”

With each team already owning one SEC loss, no wiggle room likely exists for dropping games in the hunt for an SEC division title.

Tennessee still has back-to-back road games starting next week at No. 11 Alabama and No. 24 Kentucky, plus a Nov. 18 home matchup with top-ranked Georgia.

Meanwhile, Texas A&M still has tough road tests at No. 13 Ole Miss and No. 22 LSU on its slate to shape its fate.

–Field Level Media

Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (0) and quarterback Joe Milton III (7) celebrate Wright's touchdown during an NCAA college football game between Tennessee and South Carolina in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.

Jaylen Wright powers No. 21 Tennessee past South Carolina

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Jaylen Wright rushed for 123 yards on 16 carries and scored a touchdown to help No. 21 Tennessee to a 41-20 win against visiting South Carolina in an SEC game on Saturday night.

Joe Milton III completed 21 of 32 passes for 239 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, and wide receiver Squirrel White caught nine passes for 104 yards for the Volunteers (4-1, 1-1 SEC).

South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler finished 24-of-35 for 169 yards and an interception.

Mario Anderson rushed for 101 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown for South Carolina (2-3, 1-2).

Tennessee running back Jabari Small scored on a 2-yard run with 42 seconds left in the first quarter to give the Volunteers a 14-10 lead and they kept the lead the rest of the way.

Wright scored on a 42-yard run on Tennessee’s first possession for a 7-0 lead.

Mitch Jeter kicked a 36-yard field goal to trim the lead to 7-3, and DQ Smith then intercepted Milton’s pass over the middle and returned it to the Tennessee 30.

On third-and-goal from the 6, Rattler scrambled up the middle and stretched the ball across the goal line to give the Gamecocks a 10-7 lead with 2:03 left in the first quarter.

Tennessee answered with a 50-yard reception by White that set up the 2-yard touchdown run by Small, moving the Volunteers ahead for good 14-10.

Charles Campbell’s 24-yard field goal extended Tennessee’s lead to 17-10 with 8:50 left in the first half.

Rattler overthrew a sideline pass on third-and-22 and Kamal Hadden intercepted it, running it back 28 yards for a touchdown for a 24-10 lead with 47 seconds left in the half.

The Volunteers received the second-half kickoff and marched 75 yards in 12 plays, extending their lead to 31-10 on a 6-yard touchdown catch by Jacob Warren.

The Gamecocks quickly struck back on a 75-yard touchdown run by Anderson to trim the deficit to 31-17 with 10:28 left in the third.

Campbell tacked on a 33-yard field goal with 12:42 left to stretch the lead to 34-17. Jeter answered with a 47-yarder to cut it to 34-20 with 8:35 left.

Dylan Sampson tacked on a 6-yard touchdown run for the Volunteers with 4:09 left to make it 41-20.

–Field Level Media

Sep 23, 2023; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) scrambles against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

No. 21 Tennessee has score to settle with South Carolina

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel dismissed the notion that last season’s loss to South Carolina will provide any additional motivation for his team this weekend.

With that in mind, the 21st-ranked Volunteers will head into their Southeastern Conference home opener on Saturday looking to extend their winning streak in Knoxville, Tenn., to 12 games.

As for Heupel’s most recent trip to Columbia, S.C. … well, Spencer Rattler did his best to make sure it wasn’t fun. Rattler completed 30 of 37 passes for 438 yards and six touchdowns to fuel the Gamecocks’ 63-38 thrashing of Tennessee on Nov. 19, 2022. The loss effectively ruined the Volunteers’ playoff chances.

“It’s a new week every week,” Heupel said Monday. “Last year, they were more physical than us. They competed harder than we did on that night. We didn’t handle the environment the right way. Those are lessons that have to continue to move forward with us as a program, but last year has nothing to do with this week.”

This season, Tennessee (3-1, 0-1 SEC) rebounded from a 29-16 setback to Florida on Sept. 16 — a decision that sent the Volunteers tumbling 12 spots in the poll — by breezing to a 45-14 victory over UTSA last Saturday.

Joe Milton III rushed for an 81-yard touchdown on the first play, marking the 27th time in 30 games under Heupel that Tennessee has scored a touchdown in the first quarter.

Milton added two passing touchdowns and Dylan Sampson rushed for 139 and a pair of scores for the Volunteers, who bolted to a 31-0 lead at halftime. Tennessee rolled up 512 total yards and averaged 9.2 yards per carry.

The Volunteers also forced three turnovers, and that defensive effort would be a welcome sight for Heupel as his club hopes to contain Rattler.

“He’s a really good player. He’s played at a high level; he’s played a lot of football. He’s playing extremely well right now, (and) he was dynamic in that football game (last year), but he has that in his arsenal,” Heupel said.

“We gotta do a really good job of getting him in third-and-long, (because) last year we didn’t get off the field on third-and-long. Some of that was him standing in there and making some special plays. We gotta do a great job of bottling him up and applying pressure at the same time.”

Rattler helped South Carolina (2-2, 1-1) rebound from a 24-14 loss to No. 1 Georgia on Sept. 16 by tossing three touchdowns in a 37-30 victory over Mississippi State last Saturday. Rattler, named the co-SEC Offensive Player of the Week, completed 18 of 20 passes for 288 yards.

Xavier Legette proved to be Rattler’s most trusted target, getting five receptions for 189 yards and two scores.

“He works that way in practice, and it shows on Saturday nights,” Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer said of Legette. “He’s a fantastic player. … Proud of him the way that he continues to work, and, like I said last week, we’ve got to continue to bring some of these other receivers along. Trey Knox did a nice job — four catches, that was big.

“All those other receivers, while Juice (Wells, foot injury) is out, it’s not just Legette that we can count on. These other guys have to continue to make strides.”

–Field Level Media