Tennessee’s non-conference schedule is done, and the Vols head into SEC play with a cleaner, sharper look after a 42-9 win over Kennesaw State on Saturday night in Knoxville.
The night didn’t just bring another comfortable result. It also offered a better read on where Tennessee stands before Texas comes to town, and a few things stood out fast: Faizon Brandon is moving past the early learning curve, Daune Morris may have found a bigger role, the linebacker rotation is still interesting in its own way, and the penalty problem looked far more manageable.
Brandon’s growth has now reached the point where Tennessee needs him to keep building instead of just getting comfortable. He got three games to settle in, including the road test at Georgia Tech, but SEC play is a different animal.
Against Kennesaw State, he flashed the same upside again while still leaving a little room to clean things up. Brandon finished 18-of-26 for 178 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions, and he also added 47 rushing yards and a score on 11 carries.
The offense was fairly basic in a buy-game setting, so Brandon wasn’t working with a ton of easy downfield chances. When those looks did appear, he was at least putting the ball in decent spots, even if the plays didn’t connect.
That will have to sharpen up against Texas, where any opening has to be turned into something. Tennessee’s offense is going to need quarterback play that holds up in high-level moments, with a passer who can read the field quickly and recognize when the big shot is actually there.
Still, the part of Brandon’s game that already jumps off the page is what he brings with his legs. In the red zone, that ability changes the math. It also gives Tennessee a real answer on third down when a play breaks down and the pocket stops behaving.
Daune Morris, meanwhile, looked like a back who might have forced the conversation a little louder. Tennessee was already short-handed at the position with Javin Gordon and Justin Baker inactive, leaving DeSean Bishop and Morris as the top active backs.
Then Bishop went down in the first half, putting even more on Morris’ plate. Bishop came back in the second half, but it didn’t last long before he was back on the sideline.
Morris handled the workload and then some. He had 59 yards on 10 carries by halftime, then broke loose for a 42-yard touchdown on Tennessee’s first drive after the break.
That pushed him past 100 yards for the first time in his young career. He finished with 14 carries for 116 yards and the touchdown, and reserve Hunter Barnes later got involved so Morris could finish the game healthy on the sideline.
The big remaining question with Morris is pass protection. If that part comes along, Tennessee may have found more than just a useful fill-in. He could become a real factor this season behind Bishop and, down the line, a complement to five-star David Gabriel Georges.
Defensively, the linebacker room remains one of the more interesting pieces on the roster. All offseason, the buzz centered on how deep Tennessee was at the position and how much the Vols could rotate in a two-linebacker system. So far, the group has played well, but the rotation hasn’t been as wide as some expected.
Since Arion Carter returned from suspension, the main names have been Carter, Amare Campbell, Edwin Spillman and Jeremiah Telander. Telander has actually spent more time functioning as an edge-rushing defensive lineman than as a traditional linebacker, and he’s started all three games in that role. Carter and Campbell have held the two main linebacker spots, while Spillman has been the next option to spell them or give Tennessee an extra body in 3-3 and 4-3 looks.
The name that stands out most by its absence is Jadon Perlotte. He had some strong moments as a freshman last year, but he has not been a steady part of the rotation so far. He’s getting snaps here and there, just not enough to call him a consistent piece right now.
That said, if Tennessee is confident that its top group can handle the load and stay fresh, the approach makes sense.
The other obvious win from Saturday: the flags were finally under control. Tennessee was a mess with penalties at Georgia Tech, getting hit 14 times for more than 140 yards.
That was a major point of emphasis during the week, and the response against Kennesaw State was much better. The Vols were penalized only three times for 20 yards.
Kennesaw State was the sloppier team, taking nine penalties for 90 yards, including some that kept drives alive for Tennessee. For the Vols, though, the cleaner outing matters because the standard gets tougher immediately.
Playing physically and aggressively against Texas will be necessary. So will staying disciplined enough to avoid the kind of back-breaking mistakes that can swing a game at this level.
In Other News...
Tennessee Suddenly Has A Backfield Concern At The Worst Time
DeSean Bishops afternoon against Kennesaw State turned into a reminder of how quickly a running game can change course. The Tennessee back was hurt in the first half with a hip injury, then came back briefly in the third quarter before leaving again because of pain, forcing the Volunteers to keep adjusting on the fly. Backup Daune Morris picked up extra carries and finished off a touchdown, helping steady things while the offense waited to see how much Bishop could give.
For a Tennessee team heading into a matchup with Texas, the timing could hardly be worse. Bishop had been part of the backfield rhythm, and his status now adds another layer of uncertainty to a spot where depth and durability matter most. The Volunteers will spend the next stretch hoping the injury is less serious than it looked, because the margin for error gets a lot thinner when a key runner is suddenly in question. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Just Changed The SEC Race For Tennessee Fans
Lane Kiffins move from Ole Miss to LSU instantly shifted the SEC conversation in a way Tennessee fans will recognize right away. The reported seven-year, $91 million deal is a major swing in the coaching market, and Kiffin pointed to advice from mentors and the chance to take over a program with a national-title pedigree as central to his choice.
For the Volunteers, the ripple effect matters because it reshapes the league landscape around them and changes the path Ole Miss now has to navigate. With Kiffin gone, Ole Miss turned to defensive coordinator Pete Golding as its head coach for the College Football Playoff, a sudden transition that leaves one of Tennessees conference rivals adjusting at the biggest possible moment. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Still Has Tennessee Fans Doing The Unthinkable
Seven Tennessee fans made the trip to Oxford, Miss., on Saturday night, not to pull for Ole Miss but to make their feelings about Lane Kiffin unmistakable. The group bought seats for $600 apiece and showed up in Tennessee gear for the Rebels game against LSU, a small but pointed reminder that Kiffin still draws a reaction from Vols fans years after his brief Knoxville stint.
The scene had an extra layer of irony at halftime, with Ole Miss up 24-7 on LSU while Tennessee held a 21-3 lead over Kennesaw State back home. It was the kind of crossover moment that keeps Kiffin attached to both SEC scoreboard watching and Tennessees long memory, with a handful of fans still willing to spend real money to make the point in person. [Read more 🡒]