Quarterback: A
Tyler Bray completed 18 of 20 passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns Saturday. The starting quarterback is on record pace after two games, having completed 45-of-61 passes for 643 yards and six touchdowns. Bray completed his last 13 passes before being replaced by backup Justin Worley, tying the third longest streak in school history.
Running Backs: B-
Rajion Neal helped the ground game balance the passing attack with a respectable 184 yards. Neal finished the game with 13 carries gaining 65 yards, but the Vols will need more from Neal and the other running backs if they plan to win often in the SEC.
Wide Recievers: A
Justin Hunter was on the receiving end of three of Brays' four passing touchdowns, tying a school single game record. Hunter, who missed most of last season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, didn’t seem to miss a beat with quarterback Bray. The two scored twice the during the final few minutes before halftime.
Offensive Line: B+
The Vols' offensive line also has the future looking promising surrendering only one sack in the first two games. The line will have to keep this up in the upcoming weeks with the Vols playing some of the best defenses college football has to offer.
Defensive Line: B
The defensive line picked up the pace throughout the duration of the game sacking freshman quarterback Ben McLane three times and closing the gaps from sophomore running back Donald Russell. Darrington Sentimore came up big sacking McLane on second-and-goal which set the atmosphere the rest of the way.
Linebackers: B
Vols didn’t seem to miss Curt Maggitt or Herman Lathers whom both out with injuries. Replacement Willie Bohannon was credited for a sack and two tackles. Though Vols gave up many passes in the middle of the field, when a stop was a must have, the team didn’t let third year coach Derek Dooley down.
Secondary: B-
It was to much to ask for the secondary to top last week’s performance against NC State racking up four interceptions in route to a 35-21 victory. The defensive backs had a somewhat quiet day against the Panthers with the only interception coming in the fourth by freshman Geraldo Orta with the game already decided.
Special Teams: C+
The Vols got great contributions from junior Cordarrelle Patterson and sophomore Devrin Young both with big returns in the Vols blowout victory. The biggest concern for the Big Orange so far in this young season has been kicker Michael Palardy. Palardy missed on both his only field goal attempt and one of his extra point attempts. Though these mistakes might not affect the outcome against a weaker Georgia State the little errors will become pivotal against the likes of Florida and Georgia.
Overall: A-
Tyler Bray has the fans very optimistic about how far he can lead still a fairly young Vol core. With the Vols expected to be ranked in the Associated Press' Top 25 poll for the first time this season, Vol fans must see how their team will respond to the pressure with ESPN's College GameDay coming to town to broadcast the annual rivalry game versus the No. 18 Florida Gators. Expect a big crowd at Neyland Stadium when the Vols look to avenge from last years’ 33-23 loss to the Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.




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