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Tennessee Football: 3 Takeaways from the Win vs Kentucky

By Stetson Marlin

KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10: Jordan Murphy #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs for yards during the second half of the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-7. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10: Jordan Murphy #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs for yards during the second half of the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-7. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 10: Darrell Taylor #19 of the Tennessee Volunteers gets a strip sack from Terry Wilson #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half of the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-7. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 10: Darrell Taylor #19 of the Tennessee Volunteers gets a strip sack from Terry Wilson #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half of the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-7. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

#2 – Vols defense balled out

The Tennessee Volunteers had a tall task heading into Saturday’s matchup against the No. 11 ranked Kentucky Wildcats. They had to stop the rushing attack against Snell Jr. and Terry Wilson and they did just that. If the Volunteers had to force Kentucky to throw the ball, it was going to be a victory for them.

Snell had rushed for over 100 yards five times this season, but the Volunteers were able to hold him to 81 yards on 20 attempts. Wilson was held to -6 rushing yards on Saturday on 10 attempts, which was his first time this season to rush for negative rushing yards. The defense was able to dial up blitzes all day long, forcing pressure on the Kentucky offense.

A few defensive players stood out for the Volunteers on Saturday. Daniel Bituli led the Volunteers defense with eight total tackles, including 2.5 TFLs. Darrell Taylor had a career day for Tennessee. Not only did Taylor finished with seven total tackles, but he also sacked Wilson four times on Saturday, including a huge strip sack. Marquill Osborne, who had to fill in for Bryce Thompson after he suffered an injury during the second half, came up huge for the defense. Osborne had a huge pass deflection on his first drive after the injury and then intercepted two passes from Wilson on the ensuing Kentucky drives.

If the Volunteers can continue this dominance on defense, there is no doubt they can reach a bowl game. They will have a tough task this next Saturday when they face Drew Lock, Missouri’s star quarterback. I’m sure Pruitt will have this defense prepared for another tough task this upcoming week.

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