TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
QUARTERBACKS
The third start of Jarrett Guarantano’s college career was also his best yet. The redshirt freshman still took too many sacks, but he threw the ball well and continued to display leadership while giving the Volunteers a chance to win on the road.
RUNNING BACKS
Ty Chandler and Carlin Fils-aime combined for 195 rushing yards on 35 carries in the absence of suspended star John Kelly. Their ability to step in and step up provided an encouraging show of depth for an offense that has struggled often this season..
RECEIVERS
This group played a mediocre game against the league’s worst passing defense, and their lack of big plays continues to handicap what the Vols can do with the ball.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The handful of untimely penalties this injury-riddled unit accumulated did as much damage as the seven sacks it allowed. Give the linemen credit for good run blocking, though.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Fifth-year senior tackle Kendal Vickers forced two fumbles and redshirt junior end Jonathan Kongbo forced one to help Tennessee win the time of possession battle (38:25-21:35) for the first time since doing so at Florida in the third game of the season.
LINEBACKERS
Daniel Bituli’s ejection late in the first half left this group with little depth, and that hurt on Kentucky’s game-winning drive, when the Vols had just three linebackers in the defensive rotation.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Kentucky rarely tested Tennessee through the air. Losing nickelback Rashaan Gaulden to an ejection in the fourth quarter made a difference late, but credit the secondary for holding the Wildcats to 82 passing yards.
SPECIAL TEAMS
It was a tough assignment for freshman Brent Cimaglia to attempt six field goals on a cold, windy night. He made four, but the two misses loomed large in the three-point loss.
COACHING
There was no single coaching miscue that stood out as especially egregious. But by the end of the night, Butch Jones had joined Derek Dooley as the only Vols coach to lose to Kentucky since 1984.