University of Tennessee Athletics
Four Downs: Ole Miss Game by the Numbers
October 20, 2014 | Football
By Brian Rice
UTSports.com
Each week, UTSports.com takes a look at the numbers from the weekend past and the weekend ahead in Four Downs. This week: Tackles, booming punts and a little history lesson for Bama week.
First Down: 10 - A. J. Johnson Tackles
A.J. Johnson recorded eight tackles in the first half, against Ole Miss, the final of those gave him a Tennessee record and a career milestone.
When Johnson and Corey Vereen took down Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace for a 1-yard loss on the final Rebel drive of the half, he passed Andy Spiva (1973-76) for the all-time Tennessee record for assisted tackles with 194.
On the same play, Johnson passed the 400-tackle mark for his career, just the fourth player in UT history to reach the 400-tackle plateau.
His 10-tackle total gave him his 22nd career double-digit tackle game in 43 games.
Johnson's 78 tackles on the season ranks first in the SEC, as does his 11.1 tackles per game. His pre-game average ranks him 12th in the NCAA.
For all of his defensive accomplishments, Johnson has never been a sack master. His 1.5 sacks against Ole Miss established a new career-high and more than doubled his career total. Believe it or not, Johnson had just one sack in his UT tenure entering the game against the Rebels.
Second Down: 9 - Matt Darr Punts
The punter position was a big question mark coming into the 2014 season. Multi-purpose kicker Michael Palardy was spectacular in the role a season ago, leaving Matt Darr with large shoes to fill.
Ever game, Darr's answer to the question gets a little louder. The senior punted nine times against Ole Miss, a new career high. He averaged 45.6 yards on the nine punts, the second-highest average of the season, behind only the 50.0 average he had on four punts last week against Chattanooga.
Darr's long against the Rebels was 55 yards, his second-longest punt of the season and one of four punts of 50+ yards on Saturday. He has a total of 13 punts longer than 50 yards this season, with 11 in the last four weeks.
Third Down: Quick Hits
1 - Consecutive pregame coin flips lost. A week after winning its first pregame coin toss in over a year against UTC, breaking an 11-game streak, the Vols lost another toss. One difference this time around, Ole Miss took the ball, having UT start out on defense first for just the second time this year.
6 - Possessions, out of the first seven, that UT's defense forced a three-and-out. Ole Miss picked up two first downs on their fourth drive, but was still forced to punt.
28 - Consecutive starts made by Justin Coleman.
5 - True freshmen starters on offense, running back Jalen Hurd, receiver Josh Malone right tackle Coleman Thomas, right guard Jashon Robertson and tight end Ethan Wolf.
9 - Yards on Alex Ellis' first-career catch in the second quarter.
75 - A new career-high in receiving yards for Josh Malone, who led UT in that category for the first time in his career.
3 - Career highs set by Corey Vereen, 6 tackles, 2.5 tackle for a loss and 2.5 sacks.
18 - Out of 18 games in his Tennessee career that Marquez North has has at least one catch.
254 - Consecutive games with a point scored by UT, dating back to Sept. 17, 1994. It marks the fourth-longest active streak in FBS, the 10th-longest in history
Fourth Down: A Look Ahead
4 - Alabama's ranking, meaning the Volunteers will be playing a ranked team for the 10th time in 18 games dating to last year. Of those 10 ranked foes, 8 have been ranked in the top 10 and five in the top 5 (including 3 this season).
5 - Times Tennessee has played three top-5 opponents in one season, the last time coming in 2005. The previous years were 1959, 1971 and 1990.
5 - Wins on Oct. 25, including a 51-43 win over Alabama in five overtimes in 2003.
38 - All-time wins against the Crimson Tide, who will line up across the field next Saturday when it's once again Football Time in Tennessee!
