USU vs. UT Postgame Notes

Aug. 31, 2014

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Postgame Notes - USU vs. UT

POSTGAME NOTES

Tennessee Tidbits

In its 118th season of football, UT's all-time record now stands at 805-361-53.
Tennessee's record in home openers moved to 88-24-6, dating back to 1891.
UT has won six straight and 18 of its last 20 season openers since 1995.
Tennessee is 26-3-2 in its last 31 season openers.
The squad from Rocky Top is 94-18-5 in home openers, with 20 straight victories in home openers since 1995.
The Aug. 31 game is Tennessee's third straight opener on that date, marking the first time in school history that has occurred.
UT is 8-0-1 all-time in August and 5-0 on Aug. 31.
The program has now won seven straight games played in August.
The Vols stand 1-0 after their first-ever meeting vs. Utah State.
The Big Orange is 16-1 vs. active members of the Mountain West Conference.
UT now is 8-0 in openers vs. MWC schools.
Butch Jones is now 5-3 in season openers.
He is 56-34 in his career and 6-7 at UT in his second season.
Tennessee is 0-1 in coin tosses this season after losing today's flip.
UT is 0-0 when winning the coin flip and 1-0 when losing the toss.

VFL Legend of the Game

VFL John Henderson (1999-2001) was honored in a pregame ceremony before the Utah State-Tennessee game as Vols Legend of the Game.
Henderson racked up 165 tackles and 20.5 sacks during his UT career.
He was a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award as a senior, despite missing two games with injuries.
He was a ninth overall selection of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2002 NFL Draft.
Henderson recorded 489 tackles and 29 sacks in a 10-season NFL career with the Jaguars and Oakland Raiders. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2004 and 2006.

Tennessee Captains

#14 Justin Worley, #54 Jordan Williams, #57 Mack Crowder represented the Vols for the pregame coin toss.

32 Vols Debuted

Tennessee witnessed 32 of its 71 total players make their debut tonight, accounting for 45 percent of the Vols' participation.
Twenty-one true freshmen made their Tennessee debuts on Sunday night including: #1 Jalen Hurd, #3 Josh Malone, #6 Todd Kelly Jr., #7 Rashaan Gaulden, #9 Derek Barnett, #12 Emmanuel Moseley, #17 Dillon Bates, #20 Cortez McDowell, #25 Aaron Medley, #29 Evan Berry, #41 Elliott Berry, #53 Colton Jumper, #55 Coleman Thomas, #8 Dewayne Hendrix, #73 Jashon Robertson, #40 Dimarya Mixon, #4 Vic Wharton, #2 D'Andre Payne, #80 Daniel Helm, #82 Ethan Wolf and #72 Michael Sawyers.
The previous school record for freshman debuts in the season opener was 12 freshmen in 2010 and 2011.
Eleven other newcomers made their Vol debuts in the first half including: #5 Ryan Jenkins, #9 Von Pearson, #13 Patrick Ashford, #24 Michael Williams, #60 Austin Sanders, #31 Justus Pickett, #42 Chris Weatherd, #58 Owen Williams, #48 Alex Ellis, #59 Matt Giampapa, #63 Brett Kendrick.
#82 Ethan Wolf started today's game at tight end. Wolf is now the first true freshman to start at TE since freshmen became eligible in 1972.
Wolf caught his first career pass, a 12-yard completion, from Worley.
#1 Jalen Hurd made his debut in the third down of the Vols first possession at tailback. Hurd's first career carry was a 3-yard gain in the first quarter.
Hurd made his first career catch in the second quarter for a one-yard gain. He later recorded his first-career TD on a 15-yard pass run from Worley in the fourth quarter.
#73 Jashon Robertson became the fourth true freshman to start on the O-Line in a season opener in UT history.
#9 Derek Barnett became the first true freshman to start a season opener on the D-Line in UT history.
#25 Aaron Medley made his first-career PAT following the Vols' first TD in the first quarter.
#6 Todd Kelly Jr. recovered a fumble in the first quarter, making his first-career play.

Worley's Career Night

Worley established a new career high with 27 completions, and surpassed his career high of pass attempts with 38 for 273 total yards.
Following a TD completion to Jalen Hurd in the beginning of the fourth quarter, Worley also tied a career high for TD passes in a game with three (also, 8/31/13 vs. Austin Peay).
His 273 total yards tonight are second-most in his career with UT, behind 291 yards against MTSU on Nov. 5, 2011.
Entering the fourth quarter, Worley made 13 straight completions, which surpassed Peyton Manning for fourth on the all-time consecutive completion list.

How They Scored

#2 Pig Howard ran for an eight-yard TD in the first quarter, marking his first career rushing TD.
#85 Brendan Downs caught a 12-yard TD pass from Worley, carding his fourth-career TD catch. Last season, Downs' first TD catch was also in the season opener, a three-yard reception vs. Austin Peay.
Worley completed a 14-yard pass to #9 Von Pearson in the third quarter, followed by a successful PAT by Medley.
Hurd recorded his first-career TD on a 15-yard run following a pass completion from Worley. Medley's PAT was successful for the extra point.
#15 Marlin Lane ran for a seven-yard TD in the fourth quarter, marking his ninth career rushing yard TD.

Offense

Tennessee completed passes to 11 different players against the Aggies. The last time the Vols used 11 different receivers was on Sept. 22, 2012 vs. Akron.
Through the first half against the Aggies, the Vols completed passes to nine different players.
In 2013, UT completed passes to 15 different players all year.
Six different players scored for the Vols, including Marlin Lane, Jalen Hurd, Pig Howard, Brendan Downs, Von Pearson and Aaron Medley.
Tennessee finished the game 6-of-6 in the red zone while USU was only in UT's territory on two occasions.
Worley completed a 27-yard pass to #18 Jason Croom in the third quarter, putting his team on the USU 41-yard line.
#12 Nathan Peterman entered the game at QB in the fourth quarter. He completed his lone pass attempt for no yards.

Fast Starts

The Vols jumped out to a quick start, outgaining USU in total yards 124-39 in the first quarter en route to a 14-0 lead.
Worley was 8-of-9 passing for 93 yards and one TD.
The Vols defense held Heisman Trophy candidate Chuckie Keeton to 11 yards rushing on two carries and 24 yards on 4-7 pass attempts in the first quarter.
The Vols defense also held USU to 0-for-3 on third down conversions in the first quarter.

Defensively Speaking

#34 Jalen Reeves-Maybin recorded his first-career double-digit tackle game with 10 against the Aggies. His previous single-game high was three stops, accomplished twice last year.
#45 A.J. Johnson also had nine tackles in today's contest. He later added one interception, a pass break up, quarterback hurry and forced fumble.
Johnson also snagged his first-career interception in the fourth quarter, including a 23-yard return to put his team on the USU 11-yard line.
#54 Jordan Williams stuffed USU's fourth down attempt in the second quarter, tackling Joe Hill for a 1-yard loss and giving his team possession at the Aggies' 42-yard line.
Opponents were 9-of-12 on fourth down conversions against the Vols in 2013.
#23 Cameron Sutton intercepted Keeton's pass in the second quarter, the third of his career at UT. The interception put his team on the Utah State 45-yard line.
#4 LaTroy Lewis recorded his first-career sack on Keeton in the fourth quarter, Tennessee's only sack of the game.

Special Teams

#43 Matt Darr boomed a 53-yard punt on the Vols first possession. The 53-yard punt ties his career high (twice, 11/12/11 vs. ARK; 9/29/12 vs. UGA). Darr had eight punts vs. the Aggies, including four inside the 20-yard line and one of 50-plus yards.
#25 Aaron Medley made his first-career PAT on the Vols first score in the first quarter. On the day, Medley was 5-of-5 on PATs and 1-of-2 on field goal attempts including a 36-yarder made in the second half.
#45 AJ Johnson forced a fumble on a first-quarter kickoff return by the Aggies, tackling returner Kennedy Williams.
#6 Todd Kelly Jr. recovered Johnson's forced fumble on the 12-yard line, the first play made of his career.

Odds & Ends

#9 Von Pearson made his first catch of the season in the first quarter, a nine-yard gain.
#3 Josh Malone made his first-career catch from Worley in the second quarter, 15-yard completion.

Upon Further Review

Worley's pass attempted to Pearson, originally ruled incomplete, was upheld in the second quarter.
Worley's eight-yard pass to tight end Ethan Wolf, originally ruled a complete pass in the third quarter, was reviewed and upheld.
Worley's pass attempt to receiver Pig Howard in the third quarter was originally ruled a catch. Upon further review, it was confirmed for a one-yard loss.
Utah State Keeton's 15-yard pass attempt to Swindall in the fourth quarter was reviewed and ruled an incomplete pass.

Vols Trending

The Vols were trending on Twitter during tonight's game. Among the topics were: A.J. Johnson, Go Big Orange, Todd Kelly, #USUvsTENN, Pig Howard, #TouchdownTennessee, #VolsNation, #GoVols, Touchdown Tennessee, Welcome to the New Tennessee, Medley, Jalen Hurd, Cam Sutton, Von Pearson & Josh Malone.

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