As a reminder, this is the PFF grading scale.
< 50 = Backup
50-59 = Below average starter6
0-69 = Average starter
70-79 = Above average starter
80-89 = Very good
90-99 = Elite
OFFENSE
Hendon Hooker — 94.5 (79 snaps)
Cedric Tillman — 77.0 (79)
Walker Merrill — 73.7 (4)
Velus Jones Jr. — 71.7 (66)
Darnell Wright — 70.5 (83)
Jabari Small — 68.0 (75)
Jerome Carvin — 67.5 (83)
Marcus Pierce — 65.9 (5)
Joe Milton III — 63.2 (4)
Javontez Spraggins — 61.6 (82)
Jalin Hyatt — 60.7 (23)
Jacob Warren — 60.5 (39)
Jackson Lampley — 60.0 (1)
Cade Mays — 60.0 (3)
Ollie Lane — 58.8 (83)
Ramel Keyton — 57.3 (4)
Len’Neth Whitehead — 56.1 (3)
JaVonta Payton — 52.2 (83)
Princeton Fant — 41.4 (34)
Dayne Davis — 40.8 (80)
Pro Football Focus loved what Hendon Hooker got done this weekend. In fact they’ve loved him all year. After this weekend Hooker is the 10th rated quarterback in the country according to PFF with a season grade of 90.4. If you’re wondering how much value to place on that Kenny Pickett is No. 2, Matt Corral is No. 5, Bryce Young is No. 6 and C.J. Stroud is at No. 9.
It’s Hooker’s second 90+ grade of the season.
Hooker and the Vols didn’t do a great job of pushing the ball down the field successfully this weekend. He connected on just one pass that traveled more than 20 yards in the air, going 1-for-5 for 26 yards in that situation.
Hooker did his best work in the middle of the field where he was 10-of-14 for 162 yards and a touchdown. He was 5-of-9 between the hashes on throws between 10-20 yards and he received a 94.0 grade for his work in that area.
Hooker’s grades against pressure reflected a rough night for the offensive line. He was sacked five times and pressured numerous other times. According to PFF three of those sacks came when hooker was blitzed. He was 2-of-4 for 30 yards when blitzed and was sacked three times.
As you would expect Hooker performed best from a clean pocket. In 24 drop backs he was 14-for-20 for 148 yards and a touchdown.
Darnell Wright was the highest graded defensive lineman and the only one to be graded as an above average starter at 70.8. Jerome Carving wasn’t far behind with a 67.5, his best grade since moving over from center. Javontez Spraggins received a decent grade of 61.6.
On a night when the Vols gave up five sacks PFF viewed Dayne Davis as the main culprits. Davis received a 40.8 overall grade and a 46.7 grade as a pass blocker.
Tennessee’s best rushing play against the Rebels was the quarterback scramble which accounted 78 of the Vols’ 222 rushing yards, which is a reflection of the injuries up front in my opinion. Pro Football focus defined nine of Tennessee’s rushing attempts as scrambles, which says something about the pressure Hooker was facing.
Tennessee was hard headed about trying to run it up the middle and it looks like a bad strategy in hindsight, 16 runs either over center or to the gap on either side produced just 29 yards.
The Vols found their biggest gains in runs around right end with five carries producing 57 yards. Running behind left tackle produced 38 yards on five carries.
JaVonta Payton played every single offensive snap, 83 of them. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen that from a receiver.
DEFENSE
Omari Thomas — 81.7 (21 snaps)
Byron Young — 78.1 (59)
Matthew Butler — 72.7 (78)
Caleb Tremblay — 68.2 (34)
LaTrell Bumphus — 68.1 (42)
Trevon Flowers — 67.4 (100)
Kamal Hadden — 67.0 (27)
Ja’Quain Blakely — 66.8 (67)
Da’Jon Terry — 65.6 (35)
Tyler Baron — 64.9 (42)
Theo Jackson — 64.7 (103)
Jeremy Banks — 62.7 (76)
Alontae Taylor — 61.8 (78)
Warren Burrell — 61.2 (101)
Brandon Turnage — 60.0 (4)
Jaylen McCollough — 58.7 (103)
Aaron Beasley — 55.1 (90)
Roman Harrison — 52.0 (33)
Solon Page III — 51.2 (40)
What you see on Saturday and what PFF’s grades are don’t always line up but they do in the case of Tennessee’s top graded defensive players from Saturday.
I thought Omari Thomas flashed more than I’ve seen him to this point and that was reflected by his receiving the highest grade of any defensive player at 81.7.
I also thought that Byron Young showed up more than he has to date and wasn’t surprised to see him at 78.1.
Matthew Butler was the only other defender to grade out as an ‘above average starter’ pulling down a 72.7.
The most impressive thing about Butler’s night is that he played 78 snaps. That’s an insane number for an interior defensive lineman.
On a night when Tennessee came up with five quarterback sacks and was credited with an additional five hurries the PFF pass rushing grades don’t look right. Only two defensive lineman graded out at 70+ in their eyes; Thomas got a 71.9, Butler was at 70.1.
Tennessee got high marks for tackling for the most part which I found a little surprising given the yardage surrendered (279 yards). Theo Jackson by far graded out the highest as a tackler at 85.2. Byron Young and Jeremy Banks were next at 78.4.
Overall 12 players received 70+ tackling grades. Two guys who didn’t shine as tacklers in the eyes of the PFF crew were Roman Harrison (28.6) and Jaylen McCollough (24.9).
Ole Miss didn’t try to test Tennessee much on the edge, only eight of the Rebels 54 rushing attempts went around either end.
They made their living right in the middle of the line, 29 of the 54 rushing attempts were between left and right guard and produced 172 yards, 5.9 yards per carry.
Kamal Hadden in his most extensive action to date (27 snaps) graded out as the Vols’ best cover guy at 67.1, 15 of his 27 snaps were graded as ‘coverage’ snaps.
Among defensive backs Trevon Flowers (64.8) and Theo Jackson (62.3) were next.
McCollough (57.3) was the only defensive back to receive a sub-60 grade.
Taylor was targeted seven times, he gave up three receptions but one of those was for 33 yards and 50 total. Two of the three receptions Taylor gave up went for first downs.
Jackson was targeted five times giving up three receptions for 33 yards with two of those catches for first downs.
Trevon Flowers was targeted three times giving up just one catch for nine yards.
Warren Burrell was targeted three times giving up one catch for seven yards.
Kamel Hadden was targeted just once and didn’t give up a catch.
Tennessee gave up just one catch on a ball that traveled more than 20 yards in the air, Ole Miss was 1-for-5 for 33 yards in those scenarios but the ‘one’ was a touchdown.
Ole Miss didn’t have any success throwing outside of the numbers regardless of distance and didn’t really even try. The Rebels were 1-for-9 on balls thrown outside the hashmarks in front of the line of scrimmage.
Corral was 9-for-13 for 150 yards between the numbers.
Tennessee blitzed Corral on 26% of his drop backs, 14 times total with mixed success. The Vols got home for one sack and Corral completed 6-of-12 passes for 82 yards and one touchdown against the blitz.
< 50 = Backup
50-59 = Below average starter6
0-69 = Average starter
70-79 = Above average starter
80-89 = Very good
90-99 = Elite
OFFENSE
Hendon Hooker — 94.5 (79 snaps)
Cedric Tillman — 77.0 (79)
Walker Merrill — 73.7 (4)
Velus Jones Jr. — 71.7 (66)
Darnell Wright — 70.5 (83)
Jabari Small — 68.0 (75)
Jerome Carvin — 67.5 (83)
Marcus Pierce — 65.9 (5)
Joe Milton III — 63.2 (4)
Javontez Spraggins — 61.6 (82)
Jalin Hyatt — 60.7 (23)
Jacob Warren — 60.5 (39)
Jackson Lampley — 60.0 (1)
Cade Mays — 60.0 (3)
Ollie Lane — 58.8 (83)
Ramel Keyton — 57.3 (4)
Len’Neth Whitehead — 56.1 (3)
JaVonta Payton — 52.2 (83)
Princeton Fant — 41.4 (34)
Dayne Davis — 40.8 (80)
Pro Football Focus loved what Hendon Hooker got done this weekend. In fact they’ve loved him all year. After this weekend Hooker is the 10th rated quarterback in the country according to PFF with a season grade of 90.4. If you’re wondering how much value to place on that Kenny Pickett is No. 2, Matt Corral is No. 5, Bryce Young is No. 6 and C.J. Stroud is at No. 9.
It’s Hooker’s second 90+ grade of the season.
Hooker and the Vols didn’t do a great job of pushing the ball down the field successfully this weekend. He connected on just one pass that traveled more than 20 yards in the air, going 1-for-5 for 26 yards in that situation.
Hooker did his best work in the middle of the field where he was 10-of-14 for 162 yards and a touchdown. He was 5-of-9 between the hashes on throws between 10-20 yards and he received a 94.0 grade for his work in that area.
Hooker’s grades against pressure reflected a rough night for the offensive line. He was sacked five times and pressured numerous other times. According to PFF three of those sacks came when hooker was blitzed. He was 2-of-4 for 30 yards when blitzed and was sacked three times.
As you would expect Hooker performed best from a clean pocket. In 24 drop backs he was 14-for-20 for 148 yards and a touchdown.
Darnell Wright was the highest graded defensive lineman and the only one to be graded as an above average starter at 70.8. Jerome Carving wasn’t far behind with a 67.5, his best grade since moving over from center. Javontez Spraggins received a decent grade of 61.6.
On a night when the Vols gave up five sacks PFF viewed Dayne Davis as the main culprits. Davis received a 40.8 overall grade and a 46.7 grade as a pass blocker.
Tennessee’s best rushing play against the Rebels was the quarterback scramble which accounted 78 of the Vols’ 222 rushing yards, which is a reflection of the injuries up front in my opinion. Pro Football focus defined nine of Tennessee’s rushing attempts as scrambles, which says something about the pressure Hooker was facing.
Tennessee was hard headed about trying to run it up the middle and it looks like a bad strategy in hindsight, 16 runs either over center or to the gap on either side produced just 29 yards.
The Vols found their biggest gains in runs around right end with five carries producing 57 yards. Running behind left tackle produced 38 yards on five carries.
JaVonta Payton played every single offensive snap, 83 of them. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen that from a receiver.
DEFENSE
Omari Thomas — 81.7 (21 snaps)
Byron Young — 78.1 (59)
Matthew Butler — 72.7 (78)
Caleb Tremblay — 68.2 (34)
LaTrell Bumphus — 68.1 (42)
Trevon Flowers — 67.4 (100)
Kamal Hadden — 67.0 (27)
Ja’Quain Blakely — 66.8 (67)
Da’Jon Terry — 65.6 (35)
Tyler Baron — 64.9 (42)
Theo Jackson — 64.7 (103)
Jeremy Banks — 62.7 (76)
Alontae Taylor — 61.8 (78)
Warren Burrell — 61.2 (101)
Brandon Turnage — 60.0 (4)
Jaylen McCollough — 58.7 (103)
Aaron Beasley — 55.1 (90)
Roman Harrison — 52.0 (33)
Solon Page III — 51.2 (40)
What you see on Saturday and what PFF’s grades are don’t always line up but they do in the case of Tennessee’s top graded defensive players from Saturday.
I thought Omari Thomas flashed more than I’ve seen him to this point and that was reflected by his receiving the highest grade of any defensive player at 81.7.
I also thought that Byron Young showed up more than he has to date and wasn’t surprised to see him at 78.1.
Matthew Butler was the only other defender to grade out as an ‘above average starter’ pulling down a 72.7.
The most impressive thing about Butler’s night is that he played 78 snaps. That’s an insane number for an interior defensive lineman.
On a night when Tennessee came up with five quarterback sacks and was credited with an additional five hurries the PFF pass rushing grades don’t look right. Only two defensive lineman graded out at 70+ in their eyes; Thomas got a 71.9, Butler was at 70.1.
Tennessee got high marks for tackling for the most part which I found a little surprising given the yardage surrendered (279 yards). Theo Jackson by far graded out the highest as a tackler at 85.2. Byron Young and Jeremy Banks were next at 78.4.
Overall 12 players received 70+ tackling grades. Two guys who didn’t shine as tacklers in the eyes of the PFF crew were Roman Harrison (28.6) and Jaylen McCollough (24.9).
Ole Miss didn’t try to test Tennessee much on the edge, only eight of the Rebels 54 rushing attempts went around either end.
They made their living right in the middle of the line, 29 of the 54 rushing attempts were between left and right guard and produced 172 yards, 5.9 yards per carry.
Kamal Hadden in his most extensive action to date (27 snaps) graded out as the Vols’ best cover guy at 67.1, 15 of his 27 snaps were graded as ‘coverage’ snaps.
Among defensive backs Trevon Flowers (64.8) and Theo Jackson (62.3) were next.
McCollough (57.3) was the only defensive back to receive a sub-60 grade.
Taylor was targeted seven times, he gave up three receptions but one of those was for 33 yards and 50 total. Two of the three receptions Taylor gave up went for first downs.
Jackson was targeted five times giving up three receptions for 33 yards with two of those catches for first downs.
Trevon Flowers was targeted three times giving up just one catch for nine yards.
Warren Burrell was targeted three times giving up one catch for seven yards.
Kamel Hadden was targeted just once and didn’t give up a catch.
Tennessee gave up just one catch on a ball that traveled more than 20 yards in the air, Ole Miss was 1-for-5 for 33 yards in those scenarios but the ‘one’ was a touchdown.
Ole Miss didn’t have any success throwing outside of the numbers regardless of distance and didn’t really even try. The Rebels were 1-for-9 on balls thrown outside the hashmarks in front of the line of scrimmage.
Corral was 9-for-13 for 150 yards between the numbers.
Tennessee blitzed Corral on 26% of his drop backs, 14 times total with mixed success. The Vols got home for one sack and Corral completed 6-of-12 passes for 82 yards and one touchdown against the blitz.
