Reminder on the PFF grading scale
< 50 = Backup
50-59 = Below average starter
60-69 = Average starter
70-79 = Above average starter
80-89 = Very good
90-99 = Elite
OFFENSE
Hendon Hooker — (673 snaps) 85.4
Jeremiah Crawford — (104) 83.2
Tiyon Evans — (215) 81.3
Len’Neth Whitehead — (63) 78.8
Velus Jones Jr. — (495) 78.1
Cedric Tillman — (748) 77.0
Jabari Small — (377) 75.2
Jaylen Wright — (175) 74.3
Cade Mays — (493) 73.4
Jackson Lampley — (86) 63.7
Javontez Spraggins — (750) 61.8
Darnell Wright — (811) 61.3
Cooper Mays — (369) 60.7
Jimmy Calloway — (71) 59.8
Walker Merrill — (81) 59.4
Joe Milton III — (184) 58.5
Ollie Lane — (462) 58.0
JaVonta Payton — (609) 57.9
Princeton Fant — (421) 57.8
Jacob Warren — (396) 56.4
Dayne Davis — (329) 55.8
Jerome Carvin — (785) 55.7
Kingston Harris — (107) 55.2
Jalin Hyatt — (287) 54.7
Ramel Keyton — (222) 54.2
Parker Ball — (74) 53.6
(Note, I capped the snap count minimum at Tamarion McDonald’s 72, there are a lot of walk ons and others who played limited snaps who we’re not throwing in the discussion.)
No surprise to see that Hooker finished the year as the Vols highest graded offensive player at 85.4. That’s well within the ‘very good’ range of PFF’s scale and approaching elite status.
Hooker had his most success throwing between the hashmarks, but not deep. On throws traveling between 10-20 yards in the middle of the field he was 22-of-37 for 403 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions. On short stuff over the middle Hooker finished 47-of-51 for 423 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions.
On deep throws (20+ yards in the air) between the numbers Hooker completed just 6-of-18 passes but four of those six went for touchdowns and the six completions product 212 yards.
When looking deep he was much better outside the numbers; 5-of-12 for three TDs and 246 yards throwing deep left and 6-of-11 for 259 yards and one TD going deep right.
If Vol fans hadn’t watched the comedy of errors coming from the quarterback position on short throws and screens over the last few years this last stat might not mean anything but Hooker was 34 of 48 for 426 yards and three TDs on throws at or behind the line of scrimmage.
Hooker made opposing defenses pay for bringing heat. He was blitzed on 104 of his 343 drop backs this fall. In those situations he completed 69.4% of his passes for 819 yards and 11 touchdowns with one interception.
When throwing from a clean pocket Hooker was a machine, completing 73% of his passes for 2,113 yards, 20 TDs, with three interceptions while averaging 9.6 yards per attempt.
Cedric Tillman’s overall grade of 77.0, while very good, isn’t really reflective of the type of year he had. However, if you dive into the nitty gritty detailed receiving grades they’re more reflective of the special season he had.
When targeted on throws that traveled 20+ yards Tillman graded out at 96.0, on throws between 10-20 yards he was at 95.4. That’s elite.
Tillman had seven contested catch opportunities this season, he caught the ball in six of those instances.
All told Tillman was targeted 22 times on throws of 20+ yards and made 10 catches for 390 yards. By comparison Velus Jones Jr. was targeted deep just five times this season, but maybe it should have been more, he turned those chances into three catches for 144 yards and a touchdown.
Jones Jr. was targeted 67 times this season, nearly half of those targets (30) were on throws between 0-9 yards. The reverse was true of JaVonta Payton. He had 31 total targets on the season and 12 of those came on deep balls. He turned those chances into five receptions for 235 yards and five touchdowns.
Of guys who made starts on the offensive line this season only Cade Mays (73.3) graded out at 70+ as a run blocker. Cooper Mays (67.2) was next followed by Darnell Wright (64.7), Javontez Spraggins (63.0), Ollie Lane (60.3), Jerome Carvin (57.1) and Dayne Davis (55.4).
Cade Mays (70.2) was also the only starting offensive lineman to grade out at 70+ as a pass blocker. He was followed by Cooper Mays (57.8), Dayne Davis (57.0), Jerome Carvin (56.0),, Darnell Wright (55.1), Javontez Spraggins (51.4) and Ollie Lane (47.2).
Grading the tailbacks strictly by what they did with the ball in their hands as a runner Tiyon evans (87.5) received the highest grade followed by Jabari Small (82.3) and an ever improving Jaylen Wright (78.1). Hendon Hooker (78.1) graded out just shy of 80+ as a ball carrier.
DEFENSE
Alontae Taylor — (820 snaps) 82.7
Theo Jackson — (715) 80.0
Byron Young — (398) 75.8
Matthew Butler — (663) 75.8
Elijah Simmons — (157) 75.3
Kurott Garland — (142) 73.1
Da’Jon Terry — (252) 73.0
Tyler Baron — (395) 69.1
LaTrell Bumphus — (142) 68.1
Omari Thomas — (301) 66.9
Warren Burrell — (741) 63.7
Trevon Flowers — (826) 63.4
Roman Harrison — (335) 63.2
Kenneth George Jr. — (93) 62.0
Brandon Turnage — (129) 61.4
Caleb Tremblay — (398) 61.2
Juwan Mitchell — (106) 60.3
Kamal Hadden — (186) 60.1
Ja’Quain Blakely — (474) 58.8
Doneiko Slaughter — (175) 54.2
Tamarion McDonald — (72) 53.1
Jaylen McCollough — (908) 53.0
Aaron Beasley — (685) 52.7
Jeremy Banks — (659) 52.7
Solon Page III — (329) 50.7
(Note, I capped the snap count minimum at Tamarion McDonald’s 72, there are a lot of walk ons and others who played limited snaps who we’re not throwing in the discussion.)
In many ways, at least in my opinion, the end of season grades at both the top and the bottom reflect what we saw for much of the 2021 regular season from this Tennessee football team.
It doesn’t surprise that Alontae Taylor and Theo Jackson graded out the highest among all defensive players and at 80+, i.e. ‘very good’ according to PFF’s scale.
The bad news for Tennessee, and related to why they were the second worst pass defense in the SEC this season, is that no other defensive backs who played regularly graded out as an above average starter (70+)
It also follows that Byron Young (75.8) and Matthew Butler (75.8) were next, both guys had solid years. Butle turned himself from an undersized afterthought earlier in his career into a solid SEC lineman.
Young oozes potential and despite being extremely raw, missing the first two games of the season he routinely flashed that potential as the year went on.
As always, these grades should be taken with a grade of slaw, but I think it says a lot about both Rodney Garner and the players themselves that five regular rotation guys on the defensive line graded out at 70+, ‘above average starters;’Butler, Young, Elijah Simmons, Kurott Garland and Da’Jon Terry. Tyler Baron just missed it at 69.1.
On the other end of the spectrum Tennessee had problems in the middle of the field all year long both in pass coverage and talking on the second level. That second element showed up a ton against mobile quarterbacks leaving the pocket; (see Corral, Matt).
Perhaps then it’s no coincidence that Jaylen McCollough (53.0), Aaron Beasley (52.7), Jeremy Banks (52.7) and Solon Page III (50.7) were the lowest graded defensive players on the roster per PFF.
Alontae Taylor (86.0) was the only defensive player to receive a rush defense grade of 80+ for the season.
Jackson (77.5), Young (77.0), Simmons (76.3), Butler (75.7), Garland (72.9), Bumphus (70.9), Da’Jon Terry (70.2) and Roman Harrison (70.0) all graded out at 70+ or better as run defenders.
Young (80.8), Omari Thomas (80.8) and Garland (80.1) were the highest graded tacklers on the defense. McCollough received a 29.3 grade as a tackler, Beasley a 46.6, Page a 58.5.
The Vols didn’t have anyone grade out as a ‘very good’ pass rusher (80+) which isn’t surprising if you were paying attention. Tyler Baron (74.2), Butler (72.1), Simmons (70.6) and Young (70.0) all graded out as ‘above average in that department.
Taylor graded out as the Vols’ best pass defender on the year receiving an 80.8 coverage grade. Jackson was right behind him at 79.7. Tennessee didn’t have another regular member of the secondary at 70+. Warren Burrell was the next defensive back with a 61.6 grade. Safeties Trevon Flowers (59.6) and Jaylen McCollough (51.7) got dinged by the PFF guys in their coverage grades.
< 50 = Backup
50-59 = Below average starter
60-69 = Average starter
70-79 = Above average starter
80-89 = Very good
90-99 = Elite
OFFENSE
Hendon Hooker — (673 snaps) 85.4
Jeremiah Crawford — (104) 83.2
Tiyon Evans — (215) 81.3
Len’Neth Whitehead — (63) 78.8
Velus Jones Jr. — (495) 78.1
Cedric Tillman — (748) 77.0
Jabari Small — (377) 75.2
Jaylen Wright — (175) 74.3
Cade Mays — (493) 73.4
Jackson Lampley — (86) 63.7
Javontez Spraggins — (750) 61.8
Darnell Wright — (811) 61.3
Cooper Mays — (369) 60.7
Jimmy Calloway — (71) 59.8
Walker Merrill — (81) 59.4
Joe Milton III — (184) 58.5
Ollie Lane — (462) 58.0
JaVonta Payton — (609) 57.9
Princeton Fant — (421) 57.8
Jacob Warren — (396) 56.4
Dayne Davis — (329) 55.8
Jerome Carvin — (785) 55.7
Kingston Harris — (107) 55.2
Jalin Hyatt — (287) 54.7
Ramel Keyton — (222) 54.2
Parker Ball — (74) 53.6
(Note, I capped the snap count minimum at Tamarion McDonald’s 72, there are a lot of walk ons and others who played limited snaps who we’re not throwing in the discussion.)
No surprise to see that Hooker finished the year as the Vols highest graded offensive player at 85.4. That’s well within the ‘very good’ range of PFF’s scale and approaching elite status.
Hooker had his most success throwing between the hashmarks, but not deep. On throws traveling between 10-20 yards in the middle of the field he was 22-of-37 for 403 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions. On short stuff over the middle Hooker finished 47-of-51 for 423 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions.
On deep throws (20+ yards in the air) between the numbers Hooker completed just 6-of-18 passes but four of those six went for touchdowns and the six completions product 212 yards.
When looking deep he was much better outside the numbers; 5-of-12 for three TDs and 246 yards throwing deep left and 6-of-11 for 259 yards and one TD going deep right.
If Vol fans hadn’t watched the comedy of errors coming from the quarterback position on short throws and screens over the last few years this last stat might not mean anything but Hooker was 34 of 48 for 426 yards and three TDs on throws at or behind the line of scrimmage.
Hooker made opposing defenses pay for bringing heat. He was blitzed on 104 of his 343 drop backs this fall. In those situations he completed 69.4% of his passes for 819 yards and 11 touchdowns with one interception.
When throwing from a clean pocket Hooker was a machine, completing 73% of his passes for 2,113 yards, 20 TDs, with three interceptions while averaging 9.6 yards per attempt.
Cedric Tillman’s overall grade of 77.0, while very good, isn’t really reflective of the type of year he had. However, if you dive into the nitty gritty detailed receiving grades they’re more reflective of the special season he had.
When targeted on throws that traveled 20+ yards Tillman graded out at 96.0, on throws between 10-20 yards he was at 95.4. That’s elite.
Tillman had seven contested catch opportunities this season, he caught the ball in six of those instances.
All told Tillman was targeted 22 times on throws of 20+ yards and made 10 catches for 390 yards. By comparison Velus Jones Jr. was targeted deep just five times this season, but maybe it should have been more, he turned those chances into three catches for 144 yards and a touchdown.
Jones Jr. was targeted 67 times this season, nearly half of those targets (30) were on throws between 0-9 yards. The reverse was true of JaVonta Payton. He had 31 total targets on the season and 12 of those came on deep balls. He turned those chances into five receptions for 235 yards and five touchdowns.
Of guys who made starts on the offensive line this season only Cade Mays (73.3) graded out at 70+ as a run blocker. Cooper Mays (67.2) was next followed by Darnell Wright (64.7), Javontez Spraggins (63.0), Ollie Lane (60.3), Jerome Carvin (57.1) and Dayne Davis (55.4).
Cade Mays (70.2) was also the only starting offensive lineman to grade out at 70+ as a pass blocker. He was followed by Cooper Mays (57.8), Dayne Davis (57.0), Jerome Carvin (56.0),, Darnell Wright (55.1), Javontez Spraggins (51.4) and Ollie Lane (47.2).
Grading the tailbacks strictly by what they did with the ball in their hands as a runner Tiyon evans (87.5) received the highest grade followed by Jabari Small (82.3) and an ever improving Jaylen Wright (78.1). Hendon Hooker (78.1) graded out just shy of 80+ as a ball carrier.
DEFENSE
Alontae Taylor — (820 snaps) 82.7
Theo Jackson — (715) 80.0
Byron Young — (398) 75.8
Matthew Butler — (663) 75.8
Elijah Simmons — (157) 75.3
Kurott Garland — (142) 73.1
Da’Jon Terry — (252) 73.0
Tyler Baron — (395) 69.1
LaTrell Bumphus — (142) 68.1
Omari Thomas — (301) 66.9
Warren Burrell — (741) 63.7
Trevon Flowers — (826) 63.4
Roman Harrison — (335) 63.2
Kenneth George Jr. — (93) 62.0
Brandon Turnage — (129) 61.4
Caleb Tremblay — (398) 61.2
Juwan Mitchell — (106) 60.3
Kamal Hadden — (186) 60.1
Ja’Quain Blakely — (474) 58.8
Doneiko Slaughter — (175) 54.2
Tamarion McDonald — (72) 53.1
Jaylen McCollough — (908) 53.0
Aaron Beasley — (685) 52.7
Jeremy Banks — (659) 52.7
Solon Page III — (329) 50.7
(Note, I capped the snap count minimum at Tamarion McDonald’s 72, there are a lot of walk ons and others who played limited snaps who we’re not throwing in the discussion.)
In many ways, at least in my opinion, the end of season grades at both the top and the bottom reflect what we saw for much of the 2021 regular season from this Tennessee football team.
It doesn’t surprise that Alontae Taylor and Theo Jackson graded out the highest among all defensive players and at 80+, i.e. ‘very good’ according to PFF’s scale.
The bad news for Tennessee, and related to why they were the second worst pass defense in the SEC this season, is that no other defensive backs who played regularly graded out as an above average starter (70+)
It also follows that Byron Young (75.8) and Matthew Butler (75.8) were next, both guys had solid years. Butle turned himself from an undersized afterthought earlier in his career into a solid SEC lineman.
Young oozes potential and despite being extremely raw, missing the first two games of the season he routinely flashed that potential as the year went on.
As always, these grades should be taken with a grade of slaw, but I think it says a lot about both Rodney Garner and the players themselves that five regular rotation guys on the defensive line graded out at 70+, ‘above average starters;’Butler, Young, Elijah Simmons, Kurott Garland and Da’Jon Terry. Tyler Baron just missed it at 69.1.
On the other end of the spectrum Tennessee had problems in the middle of the field all year long both in pass coverage and talking on the second level. That second element showed up a ton against mobile quarterbacks leaving the pocket; (see Corral, Matt).
Perhaps then it’s no coincidence that Jaylen McCollough (53.0), Aaron Beasley (52.7), Jeremy Banks (52.7) and Solon Page III (50.7) were the lowest graded defensive players on the roster per PFF.
Alontae Taylor (86.0) was the only defensive player to receive a rush defense grade of 80+ for the season.
Jackson (77.5), Young (77.0), Simmons (76.3), Butler (75.7), Garland (72.9), Bumphus (70.9), Da’Jon Terry (70.2) and Roman Harrison (70.0) all graded out at 70+ or better as run defenders.
Young (80.8), Omari Thomas (80.8) and Garland (80.1) were the highest graded tacklers on the defense. McCollough received a 29.3 grade as a tackler, Beasley a 46.6, Page a 58.5.
The Vols didn’t have anyone grade out as a ‘very good’ pass rusher (80+) which isn’t surprising if you were paying attention. Tyler Baron (74.2), Butler (72.1), Simmons (70.6) and Young (70.0) all graded out as ‘above average in that department.
Taylor graded out as the Vols’ best pass defender on the year receiving an 80.8 coverage grade. Jackson was right behind him at 79.7. Tennessee didn’t have another regular member of the secondary at 70+. Warren Burrell was the next defensive back with a 61.6 grade. Safeties Trevon Flowers (59.6) and Jaylen McCollough (51.7) got dinged by the PFF guys in their coverage grades.
