2021 Tennessee Volunteers football team
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 Tennessee Volunteers football | |
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Music City Bowl, L 45–48OT vs. Purdue | |
Conference | Southeastern Conference |
East Division | |
Record | 7–6 (4–4 SEC) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Alex Golesh (1st season) |
Offensive scheme | Spread |
Defensive coordinator | Tim Banks (1st season) |
Base defense | Multiple 4–3 |
Home stadium | Neyland Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 1 Georgia x#^ | 8 | – | 0 | 14 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 18 Kentucky | 0* | – | 3 | 0* | – | 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Recruiting class
editRanking | Position | Name | Home State |
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★★★★ | 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
editName | Position[1] | Joined staff |
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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
editDate | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | ||
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September 2 | 8:00 p.m. | Bowling Green* | SECN | W 38–6 | 84,314 | |||
September 11 | Noon | Pittsburgh* |
| ESPN | L 34–41 | 82,203 | ||
September 18 | Noon | Tennessee Tech* |
| ESPN+/SECN+ | W 56–0 | 80,053 | ||
September 25 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 11 Florida | ESPN | L 14–38 | 88,478 | |||
October 2 | Noon | at Missouri | SECN | W 62–24 | 45,655 | |||
October 9 | Noon | South Carolina |
| ESPN2 | W 45–20 | 89,437 | ||
October 16 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 13 Ole Miss |
| SECN | L 26–31 | 102,455 | ||
October 23 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 4 Alabama | ESPN | L 24–52 | 100,077 | |||
November 6 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 18 Kentucky | ESPN2 | W 45–42 | 61,690 | |||
November 13 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 1 Georgia |
| CBS | L 17–41 | 100,074 | ||
November 20 | 7:30 p.m. | South Alabama* |
| ESPNU | W 60–14 | 75,203 | ||
November 27 | 3:45 p.m. | Vanderbilt |
| SECN | W 45–21 | 77,349 | ||
December 30 | 3:00 p.m. | vs. Purdue* | ESPN | L 45–48OT | 69,489 | |||
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Game summaries
editBowling Green
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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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
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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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
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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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
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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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)
Game information | ||
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At Missouri
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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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
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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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 |
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Statistics | SC | TENN |
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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 |
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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
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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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)
Game information |
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Statistics | MISS | TENN |
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First downs | 29 | 29 |
Total yards | 510 | 467 |
Passing yards | 231 | 245 |
Rushing yards | 279 | 222 |
Penalties | 10–75 | 6–48 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Time of possession | 34:09 | 25:51 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Ole Miss | Passing | Matt Corral | 21/38, 231 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Matt Corral | 30 carries, 195 yards | |
Receiving | Dontario Drummond | 2 receptions, 66 yards, 1 TD | |
Tennessee | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 17/26, 233 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | Hendon Hooker | 23 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Velus Jones Jr. | 6 receptions, 93 yards |
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
editPregame line | Over/under |
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ALA -27.5 | 66.5 |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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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)
Statistics | Tennessee | Alabama |
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First downs | 10 | 32 |
Total yards | 346 | 574 |
Rushing yards | 64 | 203 |
Passing yards | 282 | 371 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Time of possession | 19:34 | 40:26 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Tennessee | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 19/28, 282 yards, 3 TD's, 1 INT |
Rushing | Tiyon Evans | 7 carries, 30 yards | |
Receiving | Cedric Tillman | 7 receptions, 152 yards, 1 TD | |
Alabama | Passing | Bryce Young | 31/43, 371 yards, 2 TD's |
Rushing | Brian Robinson Jr. | 26 carries, 107 yards, 3 TD's | |
Receiving | Jameson Williams | 6 receptions, 123 yards |
At No. 18 Kentucky
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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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)
Statistics | Tennessee | Kentucky |
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First downs | 17 | 35 |
Total yards | 461 | 612 |
Rushing yards | 145 | 225 |
Passing yards | 316 | 387 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Time of possession | 13:52 | 46:08 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Tennessee | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 15/20, 316 yards, 4 TD’s |
Rushing | Jabari Small | 4 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Velus Jones Jr. | 5 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD | |
Kentucky | Passing | Will Levis | 31/49, 372 yards, 3 TD’s, 1 INT |
Rushing | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | 22 carries, 109 yards | |
Receiving | Wan'Dale Robinson | 13 receptions, 166 yards, 1 TD |
No. 1 Georgia
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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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 p.m. EST
- 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)
- Pregame line: Georgia −19.5 • Odds to win: Georgia 88.1% • Game summary: ESPN
Game information |
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Statistics | UGA | TENN |
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First downs | 26 | 22 |
Plays–yards | 70–487 | 84–387 |
Rushes–yards | 41–274 | 36–55 |
Passing yards | 213 | 332 |
Passing: comp–att–int | 17–29–0 | 30–48–1 |
Time of possession | 32:40 | 27:20 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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UGA | Passing | Stetson Bennett | 17/29, 213 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | James Cook | 10 carries, 104 yards, 2 TD | |
Receiving | Adonai Mitchell | 5 receptions, 65 yards | |
TENN | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 24/37, 244 yards, 1TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Jabari Small | 12 carries, 49 yards | |
Receiving | Cedric Tillman | 10 receptions, 200 yards, 1 TD |
South Alabama
editPregame line | Over/under |
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TENN –28.0 | 61 |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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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)
Game information |
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Statistics | South Alabama | Tennessee |
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First downs | 13 | 28 |
Total yards | 285 | 561 |
Rushing yards | 69 | 250 |
Passing yards | 216 | 311 |
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Time of possession | 37:00 | 23:00 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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South Alabama | Passing | Desmond Trotter | 19/32, 216 yards, 2 TDs |
Rushing | Kareem Walker | 7 carries, 29 yards | |
Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 7 receptions, 143 yards, 1 TD | |
Tennessee | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 17/20, 273 yards, 2 TDs |
Rushing | Jaylen Wright | 13 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Velus Jones Jr. | 6 receptions, 103 yards |
Vanderbilt
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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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)
Statistics | VAN | TENN |
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First downs | 18 | 25 |
Total yards | 321 | 441 |
Rushing yards | 115 | 285 |
Passing yards | 206 | 156 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Time of possession | 38:16 | 21:44 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Vanderbilt | Passing | Mike Wright | 16/31, 198 yards, TD, INT |
Rushing | Rocko Griffin | 30 carries, 104 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Will Sheppard | 5 receptions, 98 yards, TD | |
Tennessee | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 10/18, 156 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Jaylen Wright | 15 carries, 112 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Cedric Tillman | 6 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TD |
Purdue
editQuarter | 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
editRound | 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
edit- ^ "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.