2021 Tennessee Volunteers football team

2021 Tennessee Volunteers football
2021 Tennessee Volunteers football
Music City Bowl, L 45–48OT vs. Purdue
Conference	Southeastern Conference
	East Division
Record	7–6 (4–4 SEC)
Head coach	Josh Heupel (1st season);
Offensive coordinator	Alex Golesh (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Tim Banks (1st season)
Base defense	4–3 multiple
Home stadium	Neyland Stadium (capacity: 102,455)

The 2021 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Volunteers played their home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, and competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by first-year coach Josh Heupel.

2021 Southeastern Conference football standings

Team	W		L	W		L
East Division
No. 1 Georgia x#^	8	–	0	14	–	1
No. 18 Kentucky	5	–	3	10	–	3
Tennessee	4	–	4	7	–	6
Missouri	3	–	5	6	–	7
South Carolina	3	–	5	7	–	6
Florida	2	–	6	6	–	7
Vanderbilt	0	–	8	2	–	10
West Division
No. 2 Alabama x$^	7	–	1	13	–	2
No. 11 Ole Miss	6	–	2	10	–	3
No. 21 Arkansas	4	–	4	9	–	4
Mississippi State	4	–	4	7	–	6
Texas A&M	4	–	4	8	–	4
Auburn	3	–	5	6	–	7
LSU	3	–	5	6	–	7
Championship: Alabama 41, Georgia 24
# – College Football Playoff champion ^ – College Football Playoff participant $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

Recruiting class


Ranking	Position	Name	Home State
★★★★	OT	Addison Nichols	Georgia
★★★★	QB	Tayven Jackson	Indiana
★★★★	WR	Cameron Miller	Tennessee
★★★	EDGE	Joshua Josephs	Georgia
★★★	TE	Brody Foley	Ohio
★★★	WR	Marquarius (Squirrel) White	Alabama
★★★	WR	Chas Nimrod	Arkansas
★★★	RB	Dylan Sampson	Louisiana
★★★	OG	Mo Clipper Jr.	Georgia
★★★	OT	Brian Grant	Florida
★★★	OG	Masai Reddick	Michigan
★★★	DT	Jordan Phillips	Florida
★★★	LB	Elijah Herring	Tennessee
★★★	LB	Kalib Perry	Kentucky

Coaching staff

Name	Position[1]	Joined staff
Josh Heupel	Head coach	2021
Tim Banks	Defensive coordinator	2021
Kodi Burns	Wide receivers	2021
Mike Ekeler	outside linebackers / Special teams coordinator	2021
Glen Elarbee	offensive line	2021
Rodney Garner	Defensive line	2021
Alex Golesh	Offensive coordinator / Tight Ends	2021
Joey Halzle	Quarterbacks	2021
Brian Jean-Mary	Linebackers	2021
Jerry Mack	Running Backs	2021
Willie Martinez	Secondary	2021

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 2	8:00 p.m.	Bowling Green*	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN	SECN	W 38–6	84,314
September 11	Noon	Pittsburgh*	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN	ESPN	L 34–41	82,203
September 18	Noon	Tennessee Tech*	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN	ESPN+/SECN+	W 56–0	80,053
September 25	7:00 p.m.	at No. 11 Florida	Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL (rivalry)	ESPN	L 14–38	88,478
October 2	Noon	at Missouri	Faurot Field Columbia, MO	SECN	W 62–24	45,655
October 9	Noon	South Carolina	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN (rivalry)	ESPN2	W 45–20	89,437
October 16	7:30 p.m.	No. 13 Ole Miss	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN	SECN	L 26–31	102,455
October 23	7:00 p.m.	at No. 4 Alabama	Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (Third Saturday in October)	ESPN	L 24–52	100,077
November 6	7:00 p.m.	at No. 18 Kentucky	Kroger Field Lexington, KY (rivalry)	ESPN2	W 45–42	61,690
November 13	3:30 p.m.	No. 1 Georgia	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN (rivalry)	CBS	L 17–41	100,074
November 20	7:30 p.m.	South Alabama*	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN	ESPNU	W 60–14	75,203
November 27	3:45 p.m.	Vanderbilt	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN (rivalry)	SECN	W 45–21	77,349
December 30	3:00 p.m.	vs. Purdue*	Nissan Stadium Nashville, TN (Music City Bowl)	ESPN	L 45–48^OT	69,489
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP and CFP Rankings after November 2 All times are in Eastern time

[2]

Game summaries

Bowling Green

Bowling Green at Tennessee

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Bowling Green	0	6	0	0	6
Tennessee	14	0	14	10	38

at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN

Date: September 2
Game time: 8:00 p.m.
Game weather: Sunny, 77 °F (25 °C)
Game attendance: 84,314
Referee: Steve Marlowe
TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color) and Cole Cubelic (sidelines)

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh at Tennessee

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Pittsburgh	0	27	7	7	41
Tennessee	10	10	7	7	34

at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN

Date: September 11
Game time: Noon
Game weather: Sunny, 71 °F (22 °C)
Game attendance: 82,203
Referee: Stuart Mullins
TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (color) and Tom Luginbill (sidelines)

Tennessee Tech

Tennessee Tech at Tennessee

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Tennessee Tech	0	0	0	0	0
Tennessee	14	14	21	7	56

at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN

Date: September 18
Game time: Noon
Game weather: Sunny, 75 °F (24 °C)
Game attendance: 80,053
Referee: Kyle Olson
TV announcers (SECN+/ESPN+): Kevin Brown (play-by-play), Hutson Mason (color) and Abby Labar (sidelines)

At No. 11 Florida

Tennessee at No. 11 Florida

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Tennessee	7	7	0	0	14
No. 11 Florida	10	7	14	7	38

at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL

Date: September 25
Game time: 7:00 p.m.
Game weather: Cloudy, 80 °F (27 °C)
Game attendance: 88,478
Referee: Matt Loeffler
TV announcers (ESPN): Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (color), and Katie George (sidelines)

At Missouri

Tennessee at Missouri

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Tennessee	28	17	10	7	62
Missouri	3	7	7	7	24

at Faurot Field, Columbia, MO

Date: October 2
Game time: Noon
Game weather: Rain, 72 °F (22 °C)
Game attendance: 45,655
Referee: David Smith
TV announcers (SECN): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Deuce McAllister (color), and Andraya Carter (sidelines)

Vs. South Carolina

South Carolina at Tennessee

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
South Carolina	0	7	7	6	20
Tennessee	28	10	0	7	45

at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee

Date: Saturday, October 9, 2021
Game time: 12:00 p.m.. EST
Game weather: Sunny • Temperature - 70°F
Game attendance: 89,437
Referee: James Carter
TV announcers (ESPN2): Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Mike Golic Jr. (color) and Taylor McGregor (sideline)
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

(9:18) TENN – Jalin Hyatt 3-yard pass from Hendon Hooker (Chase McGrath Kick). Tennessee 7-0. Drive: 14 plays, 66 yards, 4:29.
(6:46) TENN – JaVonta Payton 39-yard pass from Hendon Hooker (Chase McGrath Kick). Tennessee 14-0. Drive: 3 plays, 57 yards, 0:35.
(0:58) TENN – Hendon Hooker 11-yard run (Chase McGrath Kick). Tennessee 21-0. Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 1:18.
(0:12) TENN – Velus Jones Jr. 21-yard pass from Hendon Hooker (Chase McGrath Kick). Tennessee 28-0. Drive: 3 plays, 24 yards, 0:33.

Second quarter

(5:40) TENN – Tiyon Evans 45-yard run (Chase McGrath Kick). Tennessee 35-0. Drive: 5 plays, 76 yards, 1:43.
(2:04) SC – Kevin Harris 6-yard run (Parker White Kick). Tennessee 35-7. Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:36.
(0:00) TENN – Chase McGrath 25-yard field goal. Tennessee 38-7. Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 2:04.

Third quarter

(7:15) SC – Payton Mangrum 44-yard pass from Kai Kroeger (Parker White Kick). Tennessee 38-14. Drive: 7 plays, 59 yards, 3:18.

Fourth quarter

(12:18) SC – Kevin Harris 1-yard run (2PT Pass Failed). Tennessee 38-20. Drive: 15 plays, 80 yards, 7:04.
(4:45) TENN – Len'Neth Whitehead 2-yard run (Chase McGrath Kick). Tennessee 45-20. Drive: 6 plays, 41 yards, 3:06.

Statistics	SC	TENN
First downs	22	24
Plays–yards	75–370	72–472
Rushes–yards	153	247
Passing yards	217	225
Passing: comp–att–int	21–34–1	17–23–0
Time of possession	33:55	26:05

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
SC	Passing	Luke Doty	19/31, 167 yards
	Rushing	Kevin Harris	16 carries, 61 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Payton Mangrum	1 reception, 44 yards, TD
TENN	Passing	Hendon Hooker	17/23, 225 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Tiyon Evans	16 carries, 119 yards, TD
	Receiving	Velus Jones Jr.	6 receptions, 103 yards, TD

No. 13 Ole Miss

No. 13 Ole Miss at Tennessee

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 13 Ole Miss	10	14	7	0	31
Tennessee	9	3	7	7	26

at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN

Date: October 16
Game time: 7:30 pm
Game weather: Sunny, 59 °F (15 °C)
Game attendance: 102,455
Referee: Marc Curles
TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color) and Cole Cubelic (sidelines)

The game was delayed for nearly 20 minutes in the 4th quarter as some Tennessee fans started to throw objects onto the field, including a golf ball that hit Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin in the leg. The eruption occurred after officials ruled that Tennessee tight end Jacob Warren was short on 4th-and-24 with just under a minute left to play.[3] On the Monday following the game, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey announced that Tennessee would be fined $250,000 due to the fans' actions.[4]

At No. 4 Alabama

Tennessee at No. 4 Alabama

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Tennessee	14	0	3	7	24
No. 4 Alabama	7	14	3	28	52

at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AL

Date: October 23
Game time: 7:00 pm
Game weather: Sunny, 72 °F (22 °C)
Game attendance: 100,077
Referee: Alex Moore
TV announcers (ESPN): Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (color), and Katie George (sidelines)

At No. 18 Kentucky

Tennessee at No. 16 Kentucky

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Tennessee	14	10	14	7	45
No. 18 Kentucky	7	14	14	7	42

at Kroger Field, Lexington, KY

Date: November 6
Game time: 7:00 pm
Game weather: Sunny, 46 °F (8 °C)
Game attendance: 61,690
Referee: Steve Marlowe
TV announcers (ESPN2): Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (color), and Dawn Davenport (sidelines)

No. 1 Georgia

No. 1 Georgia at Tennessee

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 1 Georgia	7	17	3	14	41
Tennessee	10	0	0	7	17

at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN

Date: November 13
Game time: 3:30 pm
Game weather: Sunny, 49 °F (9 °C)
Game attendance: 100,074
Referee: James Carter
TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color) and Jamie Erdahl (sidelines)

South Alabama

South Alabama at Tennessee

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
South Alabama	0	7	0	7	14
Tennessee	14	21	14	11	60

at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN

Date: November 20
Game time: 7:30 pm
Game weather: Cloudy, 46 °F (8 °C)
Game attendance: 75,203
Referee: Jason Autrey
TV announcers (ESPNU): Clay Matvick (play-by-play) and Rocky Boiman (color)

Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt at Tennessee

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Vanderbilt	0	7	6	8	21
Tennessee	7	17	14	7	45

at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN

Date: November 27
Game time: 3:45 pm
Game weather: Sunny, 46 °F (8 °C)
Game attendance: 77,349
Referee: David Smith
TV announcers (SECN): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Deuce McAllister (color), and Andraya Carter (sidelines)

Purdue

2021 TransPerfect Music City Bowl

Period	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Tennessee	21	0	10	14	0	45
Purdue	7	16	7	15	3	48

at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

Date: December 30
Game time: 3:00 p.m.
Game weather: Cloudy, 57 °F (14 °C)
Game attendance: 69,489
Referee: Jerry Magallanes
TV announcers (ESPN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color), and Cole Cubelic (sidelines)

Players drafted into the NFL

Round	Pick	Player	Position	NFL club
2	49	Alontae Taylor	CB	New Orleans Saints
3	71	Velus Jones Jr	WR	Chicago Bears
5	175	Matthew Butler	DT	Las Vegas Raiders
6	199	Cade Mays	OG	Carolina Panthers
6	204	Theo Jackson	S	Tennessee Titans

References

"Football Coaches". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
"2021 Tennessee Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
Wilson, Mike (October 17, 2021). "How Tennessee Vols fans trashed end of Ole Miss game vs. Lane Kiffin". Knox News. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
Low, Chris (October 18, 2021). "SEC Fines Tennessee Volunteers $250k for fan behavior at end of loss to Ole Miss Rebels". ESPN. Retrieved October 23, 2021.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] "Football Coaches". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved June 7, 2021.

[2] "2021 Tennessee Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.

[3] Wilson, Mike (October 17, 2021). "How Tennessee Vols fans trashed end of Ole Miss game vs. Lane Kiffin". Knox News. Retrieved October 23, 2021.

[4] Low, Chris (October 18, 2021). "SEC Fines Tennessee Volunteers $250k for fan behavior at end of loss to Ole Miss Rebels". ESPN. Retrieved October 23, 2021.

Tennessee Volunteers football
Venues	Baseball Park (1892–1893) Fountain City Park (1894) Baldwin Park (1895–1900, 1902–1905) Chilhowee Park (1901, 1907) Baker-Himel Park (1906) Waite Field (1908–1920) Neyland Stadium (1921–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Alabama: Third Saturday in October Auburn Florida Georgia Georgia Tech Kentucky South Carolina Vanderbilt
Culture & lore	History Smokey "Rocky Top" Pride of the Southland Band Battle at Bristol Porter Cup
People	Head coaches Starting quarterbacks NFL draftees Statistical leaders
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National championship seasons in bold