2021 Tennessee Volunteers football team

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2021 Tennessee Volunteers football
Music City Bowl, L 45–48OT vs. Purdue
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record7–6 (4–4 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorAlex Golesh (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorTim Banks (1st season)
Base defense4–3 multiple
Home stadiumNeyland Stadium
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
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

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.

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
Tight Ends
 2021
Joey Halzle
Quarterbacks
 2021
Brian Jean-Mary
Linebackers
 2021
Jerry Mack
Running Backs
 2021
Willie Martinez Secondary 2021

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 2 8:00 p.m. Bowling Green*
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
ESPN L 14–38 88,478
October 2 Noon at Missouri
SECN W 62–24 45,655
October 9 Noon
ESPN2
W 45–20 89,437
October 16 7:30 p.m. No. 13 Ole Miss
  • Neyland Stadium
  • Knoxville, TN (rivalry)
 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
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*
ESPN L 45–48OT 69,489

[2]

Game summaries

Bowling Green

See also: 2021 Bowling Green Falcons football team
Bowling Green at Tennessee
Period 1 2 34Total
Bowling Green 0 6 006
Tennessee 14 0 141038

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

See also: 2021 Pittsburgh Panthers football team
Pittsburgh at Tennessee
Period 1 2 34Total
Pittsburgh 0 27 7741
Tennessee 10 10 7734

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

See also: 2021 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles football team
Tennessee Tech at Tennessee
Period 1 2 34Total
Tennessee Tech 0 0 000
Tennessee 14 14 21756

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

See also: 2021 Florida Gators football team and Florida–Tennessee football rivalry
Tennessee at No. 11 Florida
Period 1 2 34Total
Tennessee 7 7 0014
No. 11 Florida 10 7 14738

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

See also: 2021 Missouri Tigers football team
Tennessee at Missouri
Period 1 2 34Total
Tennessee 28 17 10762
Missouri 3 7 7724

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

See also: 2021 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
South Carolina at Tennessee
Period 1 2 34Total
South Carolina 0 7 7620
Tennessee 28 10 0745

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

See also: 2021 Ole Miss Rebels football team
No. 13 Ole Miss at Tennessee
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 13 Ole Miss 10 14 7031
Tennessee 9 3 7726

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

See also: 2021 Alabama Crimson Tide football team and Third Saturday in October
Tennessee at No. 4 Alabama
Period 1 2 34Total
Tennessee 14 0 3724
No. 4 Alabama 7 14 32852

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

See also: 2021 Kentucky Wildcats football team and Kentucky–Tennessee football rivalry
Tennessee at No. 16 Kentucky
Period 1 2 34Total
Tennessee 14 10 14745
No. 18 Kentucky 7 14 14742

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

See also: 2021 Georgia Bulldogs football team and Georgia–Tennessee football rivalry
No. 1 Georgia at Tennessee
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 1 Georgia 7 17 31441
Tennessee 10 0 0717

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
First quarter
  • (11:43) TENN – Velus Jones Jr. 9 Yd pass from Hendon Hooker (Chase McGrath Kick) (Tennessee 7–0)
  • (9:11) UGA – James Cook 39 Yd Run (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Tied 7–7)
  • (1:39) TENN – Chase McGrath 24 Yd Field Goal (Tennessee 10–7)
Second quarter
  • (9:42) UGA – Jack Podlesny 40 Yd Field Goal (Tied 10–10)
  • (7:24) UGA – Stetson Bennett 9 Yd Run (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Georgia 17–10)
  • (0:37) UGA – James Cook 23 Yd pass from Stetson Bennett (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Georgia 24–10)
Third quarter
  • (4:41) UGA – Jack Podlesny 26 Yd Field Goal (Georgia 27–10)
Fourth quarter
  • (13:14) UGA – James Cook 5 Yd Run (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Georgia 34–10)
  • (7:03) UGA – Kenny McIntosh 5 Yd Run (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Georgia 41–10)
  • (3:38) TENN – Cedric Tillman 12 Yd pass from Joe Milton (Chase McGrath Kick) (Georgia 41–17)
Statistics UGA TENN
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
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

See also: 2021 South Alabama Jaguars football team
South Alabama at Tennessee
Period 1 2 34Total
South Alabama 0 7 0714
Tennessee 14 21 141160

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

See also: 2021 Vanderbilt Commodores football team and Tennessee–Vanderbilt football rivalry
Vanderbilt at Tennessee
Period 1 2 34Total
Vanderbilt 0 7 6821
Tennessee 7 17 14745

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

See also: 2021 Purdue Boilermakers football team and 2021 Music City Bowl
2021 TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Tennessee 21 0 1014045
Purdue 7 16 715348

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

See also:
2022 NFL Draft
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

  1. ^ "Football Coaches". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  2. ^ "2021 Tennessee Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  3. 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.


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