A Look At The Vols Updated Records

Dec. 4, 2015

In preparation of the Vols bowl appearance this winter, take a look at the records which were set during the 2015 season. Evan Berry set the standard when it comes to kickoff return average for a season and career.

BERRY SWEET RETURN RECORDS

Evan Berry's 38.3 kickoff return average will set a new single-season record, smashing the former mark of 29.82 by Dale Carter in 1990. Berry is also fourth on the list with 29.5 in 2014.

Berry also tied the Tennessee record for kickoff returns for touchdown in a season, tying Willie Gault's mark set in 1980. Berry also shares the record for combined total kick returns for touchdowns with Gault.

Berry's career kickoff return average of 34.8 is a new Tennessee record for both 12- and 30-return minimums. The previous marks were held by George Cafego with a 32.6 average in 12 returns for 391 yards in from 1937-39. The 30-minimum record was held by Dale Carter with a mark of 25.7 from 1990-91 with 44 returns for 1,130 yards.

Berry's total of 804 kickoff return yards stands second-most in a season in Tennessee history. He is behind record-holder David Oku, who had 863 in 2009.

Berry's career total of 1,217 kickoff return yards stands fifth all-time at Tennessee. Next up are No. 4 Corey Larkins with 1,307 and No. 3 Devrin Young with 1,543.

Berry's 100-yard kickoff return at Kentucky was the fifth 100-yard kickoff return in school history. He joined: Willie Gault (Pittsburgh 1980); Pete Panuska (Maryland 1984); Peerless Price (Alabama 1998); Leonard Scott (Georgia 1999)

Additionally, his 96-yard touchdown return vs. Arkansas tied for the 10th-longest return in Tennessee history. Willie Gault also had a 96-yarder at LSU in 1982.

Berry's total of 804 overall return yards (both kickoff and punt return yards) ranks as the fourth-most in a season in Tennessee history.

SUTTON SET PUNT RETURN MARKS

Cameron Sutton broke a 46-year old record in the regular-season finale vs. Vanderbilt. Sutton's 85-yard punt return for touchdown pushed him past Bobby Majors' former record for punt return yards in a season. Majors had 457 yards in 1969. Sutton stands at 467 heading to the bowl.

Sutton also tied the Tennessee record for punt returns for touchdowns in a season with two. The mark was previously accomplished by Bobby Majors twice in 1969 and 1971, Eddie Brown in 1973, Stanley Morgan in 1975 and Terry Fair in 1996.

With three punt returns for touchdowns, Sutton is tied for second-most in a career with Stanley Morgan. The record is held by Bobby Majors with four from 1969-71.

Sutton's career return average of 16.9 is a new Tennessee record. He surpassed Burt Rechichar's 14.7 from 1949-51.

Sutton's single-season average of 18.7 is third all-time at Tennessee. He stands behind the record holder of Bill Blackstock (25.9) in 1951 and Walter Slater (20.4) in 1941.

Sutton's career total of 625 punt return yards leaves him closing in on 10th in career punt return yards as Willie Gault has 659 yards.

GAMES PLAYED RECORD ON HORIZON FOR RANDOLPH

Redshirt senior Brian Randolph will set a Tennessee record for most games played in Tennessee history when he plays in the bowl game, his 53rd game in Orange & White. Randolph is currently tied with punter Dustin Colquitt (2001-04), wide receiver Denarius Moore (2007-10) and tight end Luke Stocker (2007-10) for most games played with 52.

Randolph played in 12 games as a true freshman in 2011, three in 2012 when he suffered an injury in the third game and took a redshirt season, 12 more in 2013, 13 in 2014 and 12 as a senior in 2015. He has started 46 games, four shy of the record for games started by a position player of 50 by defensive back Jonathan Hefney (2004-07).

DOBBS ROCKETS TO TOTAL OFFENSE MARKS

Joshua Dobbs' 430 total yards of offense in the Georgia game were the fifth-most in a game in history. He had 312 passing yards and 118 rushing yards. Dobbs holds the fourth-highest mark on the list with 467 in the comeback win at South Carolina in 2014.

For the season, Dobbs' total of 2748 yards, ties Jonathan Crompton for 10th-most in a season in Tennessee history. It is fourth-most by a junior, behind Tyler Bray (3578 in 2012), Peyton Manning (3156 in 1996) and Erik Ainge (2887 in 2006).

Dobbs' career total of 5,668 yards of total offense are seventh all-time. Next is Jeff Francis with 5,900 and Andy Kelly with 6,427.

DOBBS LAUNCHES ONTO PASSING CHARTS

Dobbs has the seventh-most completions in a career with 375. Next on the list is Jeff Francis with 476.

Dobbs is 10th in career passing yards with 4,026. Next are No. 9 Heath Shuler (4,088), No. 8 Jonathan Crompton (4,187) and No. 7 Tee Martin (4,592).

Joshua Dobbs stands 11th in single-season pass attempts with 319. Next on the list is Erik Ainge with 348 in 2006.

Dobbs is eighth in career pass attempts with 617. Next on the list are Jonathan Crompton at seventh with 629 and No. 6 Jeff Francis with 768.

DOBBS SETS STANDARD FOR RUSHING

Joshua Dobbs set a new single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback. He enters the bowl with 623 yards on the season, surpassing the old record of 593 by Jimmy Streater, set in 1978. Dobbs is also third on the list with 469 in 2014, in his sophomore season.

Dobbs stands second in career rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,281. He trails Streater's career mark of 1374 by 93 yards, entering the bowl with 1,281 yards.

Dobbs is second career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 18. The record of 25 is held by Jimmy Streater, who set it from 1976-79.

Dobbs' single-season total of nine rushing touchdowns trails Heath Shuler's single-season record of 11 in 1992, followed by Streater's 10 in 1978. Tee Martin also had nine in his senior season of 1999.

Dobbs posted two of the four greatest rushing days for a quarterback in 2015. His 136 at Florida is third all-time in a single-game. His 118 vs. Georgia is fourth. He holds the record of 166 at South Carolina, set in 2014.

HURD-ING UP THE RUSHING CHARTS

Jalen Hurd's 1,158 rushing yards in 2015 currently stands as the 12th-most in a single-season. He posted the 18th 1000-yard season in Tennessee history. He has a chance to make a significant move up the single-season list in the bowl. Next up are No. 11 Charlie Garner (1,161), No. 10 Arian Foster (1,193), No. 9 Reggie Cobb (1,197), No. 8 Chuck Webb (1,236), No. 7 Tony Thompson (1,261), No. 6 Johnnie Jones (1,290).

Hurd is in position to become the all-time leading rusher in Tennessee history with 2,057 to date. He is just 1,021 yards from the career record of 3,078, held by Travis Henry from 1997-2000. He currently stands 15th, but is in position to move up the chart quickly.

Hurd's 253 carries in the 2015 season is tied for the fourth-most in a single-season with Travis Henry in 2000. He trails Travis Stephens' record of 291, set in 2001. That is followed by No. 2 Montario Hardesty with 282 in 2009 and No. 3 Jay Graham with 272 in 1995.

Hurd is moving up the career rushes chart. He has 443 following his sophomore regular-season. That stands 13th in career carries at Tennessee. Next up are No. 12 Rajion Neal (444), No. 11 Reggie Cobb (445) and No 10 Jamal Lewis (487).

Hurd's career-high 34 carries at Missouri on Nov. 21, equalled the 11th-most rushes in a game in Tennessee history.

Hurd's 11 rushing touchdowns this season, leave him one shy of tying for ninth in a single-season in Tennessee history. Six players have had 12 in a single-season, the last was Rajion Neal in 2013. Three players stand tied for sixth with 13 rushing touchdowns in a season.

With eight 100-yard rushing gams in his career, Hurd is tied for 11th-most in a career in history. Tied at ninth wth nine gams are Arian Foster and Tauren Poole.

TEAMING UP FOR 100 YARDS

For the first time since 1994, the Vols had two games in which they had a pair of 100-yard rushers. Overall, Tennessee has now had 17 games in history with multiple 100-yard rushers.

In the 2015 opener vs. Bowling Green, Alvin Kamara (144) and Jalen Hurd (123) combined to each rush for 100 yards.

In the game at Florida on Sept. 26, quarterback Joshua Dobbs (136) and Hurd (102) both surpassed the 100-yard plateau.

MEDLEY KICKS TO RECORD LISTS

Sophomore kicker Aaron Medley is closing in on the all-time record for points by kick scoring. With 109 points in 2015, he is just six shy of tying Daniel Lincoln's record of 115, set in 2007.

Medley became the eighth kicker to make at least 35 PATs without a miss in a season as he was 49-of-49 in 2015. John Becksvoort holds the mark for most makes without a miss with a perfect 59-of-59 in 1993. Medley is third in terms of most makes without a miss behind Becksvoort and Greg Burke (50-of-50) in 1990. Others on the list:; James Wilhoit 2003 (41 of 41); John Becksvoort 1994 (39 of 39); Alex Walls 2000 & 2001 (both 39 of 39); Greg Burke 1989 (36 of 36); John Becksvoort 1992 (35 of 35).

Medley's 109 points are the fourth-most in a season all-time, behind Lincoln's 115 and the top two on the list: Gene McEver with 130 in 1929 and Reggie Cobb with 120 in 1987 (both gained most of their points via touchdowns).

With 211 points in his young career, Medley is 11th in career scoring with 40 field goals made and 91 PATs. Next on the list at No. 10 is Michael Palardy with 220 points from 2010-13.

Medley's 29 field goal attempted are tied for the second-most in a season at Tennessee. He trails only Fuad Reveiz, who attempted 31 in 1982. Medley's 26 in 2014 is now sixth on the list.

Medley's 55 career field goal attempted are eighth all-time at Tennessee. Next up is 61 by No. 7 Ricky Townsend.

With four made field goals at Missouri on Nov. 21, Medley tied for the fifth-most made field goals in a game with four. The previous time that happened was by Derrick Brodus in 2012 against Akron.

With 20 made field goals, Medley equalled his own mark of 20 last season as a freshman. Along with Fuad Reveiz, 20 made field goals is fourth-most in a season. Next up are No. 3 Daniel Lincoln with 21 in 2007, No. 2 Carlos Reveiz with 24 in 1985 and No. 1 Fuad Reveiz with 27 in 1982.

Medley is now seventh in career made field goals with 40. Next up is No. 6 Daniel Lincoln with 51.

Medley's career field goal percentage of 72.7 is tied for fourth on the all-time list with Greg Burke from 1989-90. Burke made 32-of-44.

DANIEL BOOMS ON PUNTING CHARTS

Trevor Daniel's season average of 45.6 would become the new Tennessee record for punting average in a season with a minimum of 50 punts. The current record is held by Dustin Colquitt at 45.3 in 2003.

Daniel's 45.6 would stand as the second-greatest season in Tennessee history. The record (with a minimum of 40 punts) of 46.9 was set by Jimmy Colquitt in 1982 with 46 punts for 2,156 yards.

Trevor Daniel had the seventh-best punting day in Tennessee history with an average of 51.3 at Florida on Seot. 26.

A LOOK AT THE DEFENSIVE CHARTS

Jalen Reeves-Maybin's 21-tackle game vs. Oklahoma on Sept. 12 equals the most by any player in FBS football in 2015. That 21-tackle mark also ties for the the 11th-most in a game in Tennessee history.

Derek Barnett's nine sacks in 2015 tie for the ninth-most in a season in Tennessee history. Barnett's freshman season in 2014 saw him post 10 sacks, which is tied for seventh on the list with Ronnie McCartney in 1975.

Barnett's 19 career sacks are just shy of the Top 8 all-time. Eighth on the all-time list is Steve White with 20 from 1992-95.

Cameron Sutton has moved to tie for fourth in carer passes defended with 32. He has 26 pass break-ups and six interceptions. He is tied with Jonathan Hefney and Rashad Baker with 32 all-time. Next on the list with 34 are Dwayne Goodrich and Preston Warren. Jabari Greer holds the all-time record with 35 passes defended.

NCAA & SEC LEADERS

The Vols are in position to have two SEC individual statistical champions. Evan Berry leads both the NCAA and SEC in kickoff return average at 38.3. Cameron Sutton leads both in punt return average at 18.7.

If Berry maintains the lead, he would be the Vols' first NCAA Champion in kickoff return average since Dale Carter in 1990 (29.8).

Berry would also be the fifth SEC Champion in kickoff return average, joining Carter along with Anthony Morgan in 1988, Billy Williams in 1993 and Leonard Scott in 1999.

Sutton would be the Vols' third punt return king in the NCAA yearly annals. He would join 1941 champion Walter Slater (20.4 per return) and 1951 champ Bill Blackstock (25.9 per return).

Sutton would officially be the Vols' fourth SEC leader in punt return average, joining Thomas Woods in 1986, Shawn Summers in 1993 and Nilo Silvan in 1994.

It would mark the first time since 1993 the Vols had the SEC's top kickoff and punt returner.

KICKOFF RETURN KINGS

For the second team in history, Tennessee is positioned to claim the top kickoff return average in the NCAA with a 33.41 mark heading into the bowl. In 1983, Tennessee led the country with a 28.8 average return.

The 33.4 mark also would set a new Tennessee single-season record, breaking the mark of 25.6 per return in 1946.

The Vols would also post the top mark in the SEC for the sixth time since 1990 and first in 15 years. UT also had the league's best kickoff return average in 1990, 1993, 1995, 1999 and 2000.

THIRD DOWN FOR WHAT?

The Vols are in position to be claim the top spot in the SEC in third down conversion defense with a 27.7 percentage mark, allowing just 49 of 177 conversions.

Tennessee also led the SEC in 1997 (28 percent) and 2002 (29.1 percent).

FOURTH-DOWN SUCCESS

The Vols lead the SEC in fourth-down conversion offense at 78.6 percent (11-of-14). It would be the first time the Vols have led the league in the category.

ATTENDANCE TOPS SINCE 2008

The Vols averaged 100,584 fans at Neyland Stadium in 2015, their largest home average attendance since 2008 (101,448).

MANY HAPPY RETURNS

After accomplishing a feat once in school history, the Vols achieved having a kickoff return and punt return for touchdown in a same game twice this season.

Against Western Carolina on Sept. 19, Evan Berry returned a kickoff for an 88-yard touchdown and Alvin Kamara had a 50-yard punt return for score. Then at Kentucky on Oct. 31, Berry had a 100-yard kickoff return for touchdown and Cameron Sutton had an 84-yard punt return for score.

The only other time such a game happened was in 1950 against Washington Lee when Burt Rechichar had a 100-yard punt return and Kimmy Hahn had an 83-yard kickoff return. To add to the noteworthiness of that game, Rechichar also had an interception returned for a touchdown.

COMEBACK KING

The Vols comeback from down 21 points at 24-3 in the second quarter of the Georgia game on Oct. 10, equalled the third-largest comeback in Tennessee history. It is also the second-largest comeback at home for the Vols, only bettered by a 25-point comeback in 1987 vs. Vanderbilt, when T rallied from down 28-3 to win 38-36.

TEAM MARKS ON THE HORIZON

With 564 carries Vols are just 29 rushes shy of tying the school record for carries in a season. In 1976, Tennessee ran the ball 593 times.

The Vols have posted their fourth-most rushing yardage total in a season with 2,682. That trails the record of 3,068 set in 1951, 2,710 in 1950 and 2,701 in 1989. The Vols are 386 from the record and just 28 yards from equalling the second-most in a season in history.

With 412 points, the Vols have scored the fifth-most points in a season in school history. The record of 471 was set in 1993. Next on the list are: 455 in 2007, 442 in 1989 and 434 in 2012. Tennessee is 59 shy of the all-time record.

Tennessee is 31 first downs shy of the all-time record, entering the bowl with 269. The record of 300 was set in 1997.

The Vols can equal the all-time record for first downs by rushing with 14 in the bowl. With 136 in 2015, the Vols are closing in on the record of 150, set in 1987.

Tennessee's opponents are 10 shy of tying the record for penalties committed in a season. In 2015, they have combined for 82 fouls, 10 shy of the 2004 record of 92. Also, opponents are just 60 yards shy of the yards record of 759, set in 1988. In 2015, Tennessee's foes have combined for 699 penalty yards.

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