Tennessee’s 26-10 win over Alabama showed up in the PFF numbers the same way it did on the field: a lot of strong grades from a lot of different places.
On offense, the highest mark belonged to freshman wide receiver TK Keys, who posted an 80.4 in just 10 snaps. That’s a small sample, sure, but he made it count.
Running back DeSean Bishop was right behind him at 79.6, and this one came with real volume - 56 snaps - plus a pair of second-half touchdowns. Right tackle Jesse Perry also turned in a solid day at 73.7 over 72 snaps, while wide receiver Mike Matthews checked in at 70.6 on 69 snaps and quarterback George MacIntyre finished at 70.4 across 72 snaps.
The rest of the offensive grades followed with David Sanders Jr. at 67.3 in 57 snaps, Daune Morris at 62.9 in 10, Javin Gordon at 61.7 in six, and tight end DaSaahn Brame at 61.0 in 38. Ed Baker, listed at 60.0, and the two defensive linemen Nathan Robinson and Carson Gentle, each also showed up in the offensive grades with limited usage. Below them were Nic Moore at 56.0, Sam Pendleton at 55.4, Donovan Haslam at 54.5, Radarious Jackson at 53.6, Braylon Staley at 52.7, Trent Thomas at 52.3, Ory Williams at 52.2, and Luca Wolf at 51.8.
MacIntyre’s 70.4 stands out because it reflects a clean-looking outing directing the Vols’ offense. But Bishop was the clear workhorse among the top performers, and his grade matches the kind of game Tennessee got from him.
The defense was even more loaded with high marks, starting with linebacker Jeremiah Telander at 73.0 in 18 snaps. He was followed closely by Edwin Spillman, who put up a 71.9 in 16 snaps. Safety Dejuan Lane came next at 70.9 and played all 59 defensive snaps, pairing a pick and a fumble recovery with strong work in coverage and as a pass rusher.
Behind those three, Ty Redmond graded at 69.3 over 59 snaps, Amare Campbell at 69.2 in 59, and nickel Qua Moss at 68.9 in 57. Xavier Gilliam posted a 67.6 in 44 snaps, JJ Finch a 66.6 in 14, and Kayin Lee a 64.0 in 58. Nathan Robinson checked in at 63.5 in 13, Arion Carter at 62.1 in 49, Mariyon Dye at 62.0 in 38, Ethan Utley at 60.2 in four, Isaiah Campbell at 59.8 in two, Carson Gentle at 59.2 in seven, TJ Metcalf at 57.7 in 59, Daevin Hobbs at 57.2 in 25, Tyree Weathersby at 56.7 in 42, Jordan Norman at 55.0 in 23, and Tevis Metcalf at 40.9 in three.
Telander’s grade jumps off the page because it came in such a limited sample, but the bigger story is how often Tennessee’s defense kept popping in the top spots. Spillman’s 71.9 was his best game of the year so far, and Lane’s 70.9 backed up the kind of impact he made throughout the afternoon.
In Other News...
Nick Saban Sees One Real Threat In Alabama's Trip To Neyland
With Alabama headed to Neyland Stadium for a Week 7 meeting with Tennessee, the buildup has already turned to how the Volunteers can make life difficult for the No. 6 Crimson Tide. Nick Saban, weighing in on College GameDay, pointed to Tennessees defense as the part of this matchup that can matter most, along with the Vols willingness to run the ball and try to keep Alabamas offense on the sideline.
For Tennessee, that kind of approach brings the game into the kind of fight it wants. Limiting possessions against an opponent like Alabama is one thing, but doing it while also letting the defense hold up for four quarters is another, and that is where this matchup feels most interesting. The Volunteers defensive play this season could end up being the difference between keeping things tight in Knoxville and letting the Tide dictate the pace. [Read more 🡒]
George MacIntyre Revealed What Meant Most In Tennessees Alabama Win
George MacIntyre got a fresh look at what Tennessees rivalry win over Alabama can mean inside Neyland Stadium, and the freshman quarterback came away talking less about the box score than about the people around him. In his second career start, MacIntyre guided the offense well enough for the Vols to pull off the kind of victory that tends to linger in Knoxville, finishing 21 of 31 for 197 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
After the game, MacIntyre used his time with the media to focus on the teams resilience and the way Tennessee kept answering through the night. He also made a point to single out teammates such as freshman wide receiver TK Keys, a reminder that for a young quarterback in a game like this, the biggest takeaway can be the trust built on the field more than the stat line he leaves behind. [Read more 🡒]
Kalen DeBoer Knows Whats Threatening Alabama In Knoxville
Halftime in Knoxville has been shaped less by big plays than by field goals, and Tennessee has taken advantage of that to build a 12-10 lead over No. 6 Alabama. Cooper Ranvier has supplied all of the Volunteers scoring with four field goals, while Alabama has had to lean on a rushing touchdown from quarterback Keelon Russell just to stay within striking distance.
Kalen DeBoers team has had flashes on defense, especially in forcing Tennessee to settle for kicks instead of touchdowns, but the turnovers tied to Russell have loomed over the first half. For Alabama, the challenge now is clear: clean up the mistakes, find more consistency on offense and avoid letting a tight rivalry game slip further away on the road. [Read more 🡒]