# 2021 Tennessee Volunteers football team

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

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 8:00 p.m. | Bowling Green* | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN | SECN | W 38–6 | 84,314 |
| September 11 | Noon | Pittsburgh* | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN | ESPN | L 34–41 | 82,203 |
| September 18 | Noon | Tennessee Tech* | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN | ESPN+/SECN+ | W 56–0 | 80,053 |
| September 25 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 11 Florida | Ben Hill Griffin StadiumGainesville, FL (rivalry) | ESPN | L 14–38 | 88,478 |
| October 2 | Noon | at Missouri | Faurot FieldColumbia, MO | SECN | W 62–24 | 45,655 |
| October 9 | Noon | South Carolina | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (rivalry) | ESPN2 | W 45–20 | 89,437 |
| October 16 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 13 Ole Miss | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (rivalry) | SECN | L 26–31 | 102,455 |
| October 23 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 4 Alabama | Bryant–Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL (Third Saturday in October) | ESPN | L 24–52 | 100,077 |
| November 6 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 18 Kentucky | Kroger FieldLexington, KY (rivalry) | ESPN2 | W 45–42 | 61,690 |
| November 13 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 1 Georgia | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (rivalry) | CBS | L 17–41 | 100,074 |
| November 20 | 7:30 p.m. | South Alabama* | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN | ESPNU | W 60–14 | 75,203 |
| November 27 | 3:45 p.m. | Vanderbilt | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (rivalry) | SECN | W 45–21 | 77,349 |
| December 30 | 3:00 p.m. | vs. Purdue* | Nissan StadiumNashville, TN (Music City Bowl) | ESPN | L 45–48$^{OT}$ | 69,489 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP and CFP Rankings after November 2All times are in Eastern time |||||||

## Game summaries
### Bowling Green

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bowling Green | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Tennessee | 14 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 38 |
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Pittsburgh | 0 | 27 | 7 | 7 | 41 |
| Tennessee | 10 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tennessee Tech | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tennessee | 14 | 14 | 21 | 7 | 56 |
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tennessee | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| No. 11 Florida | 10 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
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)
Game information :
First quarter
Florida – Malik Davis 4-yard pass from Emory Jones, (Jace Christmann kick) 9:20
Tennessee – Tiyon Evans 47-yard pass from Hendon Hooker, (Chase McGrath kick), 7:05
Florida – Jace Christmann 47-yard field goal, 1:07
Second quarter
Tennessee – JaVonta Payton 75-yard pass from Hendon Hooker, (Chase McGrath kick), 11:31
Florida – Nay'Quan Wright 23-yard run, (Jace Christmann kick), 4:15
Third quarter
Florida – Kemore Gamble 13-yard pass from Trent Whittemore, (Jace Christmann kick), 12:21
Florida – Rick Wells 9-yard pass from Emory Jones, (Jace Christmann kick), 2:04
Fourth quarter
Florida – Malik Davis 9-yard run, (Jace Christmann kick), 1:39
Passing leaders
TEN – Hendon Hooker – 13/23, 221 yards, 2 touchdowns
FLA – Emory Jones – 21/27, 209 yards, 2 touchdowns
Rushing leaders
TEN – Jabari Smith – 11 carries, 60 yards
FLA – Emory Jones – 15 carries, 147 yards
Receiving leaders
TEN – JaVonta Payton – 2 receptions, 82 yards, 1 touchdown
FLA – Justin Shorter – 3 receptions, 54 yards
Tackling leaders
TEN – Trevon Flowers, 15 tackles
FLA – Trey Dean, 11 tackles :

### At Missouri

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tennessee | 28 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 62 |
| Missouri | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| South Carolina | 0 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
| Tennessee | 28 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 45 |
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
| 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 |
| SC | Rushing | Kevin Harris | 16 carries, 61 yards, 2 TD |
| SC | Receiving | Payton Mangrum | 1 reception, 44 yards, TD |
| TENN | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 17/23, 225 yards, 3 TD |
| TENN | Rushing | Tiyon Evans | 16 carries, 119 yards, TD |
| TENN | Receiving | Velus Jones Jr. | 6 receptions, 103 yards, TD |

### No. 13 Ole Miss

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 13 Ole Miss | 10 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
| Tennessee | 9 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 26 |
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)
| Statistics | MISS | TENN |
| First downs | 29 | 29 |
| Total yards | 510 | 467 |
| Passing yards | 231 | 245 |
| Rushing yards | 279 | 222 |
| Penalties | 10–75 | 6–48 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 34:09 | 25:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Ole Miss | Passing | Matt Corral | 21/38, 231 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Ole Miss | Rushing | Matt Corral | 30 carries, 195 yards |
| Ole Miss | Receiving | Dontario Drummond | 2 receptions, 66 yards, 1 TD |
| Tennessee | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 17/26, 233 yards, 1 TD |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Hendon Hooker | 23 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Velus Jones Jr. | 6 receptions, 93 yards |
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. On the Monday following the game, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey announced that Tennessee would be fined $250,000 due to the fans' actions.

### At No. 4 Alabama

| Pregame line | Over/under |
| ALA -27.5 | 66.5 |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tennessee | 14 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
| No. 4 Alabama | 7 | 14 | 3 | 28 | 52 |
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)
| Statistics | Tennessee | Alabama |
| First downs | 10 | 32 |
| Total yards | 346 | 574 |
| Rushing yards | 64 | 203 |
| Passing yards | 282 | 371 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 19:34 | 40:26 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tennessee | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 19/28, 282 yards, 3 TD's, 1 INT |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Tiyon Evans | 7 carries, 30 yards |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Cedric Tillman | 7 receptions, 152 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Passing | Bryce Young | 31/43, 371 yards, 2 TD's |
| Alabama | Rushing | Brian Robinson Jr. | 26 carries, 107 yards, 3 TD's |
| Alabama | Receiving | Jameson Williams | 6 receptions, 123 yards |

### At No. 18 Kentucky

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tennessee | 14 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 45 |
| No. 18 Kentucky | 7 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
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)
| Statistics | Tennessee | Kentucky |
| First downs | 17 | 35 |
| Total yards | 461 | 612 |
| Rushing yards | 145 | 225 |
| Passing yards | 316 | 387 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 13:52 | 46:08 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tennessee | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 15/20, 316 yards, 4 TD’s |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Jabari Small | 4 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Velus Jones Jr. | 5 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD |
| Kentucky | Passing | Will Levis | 31/49, 372 yards, 3 TD’s, 1 INT |
| Kentucky | Rushing | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | 22 carries, 109 yards |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Wan'Dale Robinson | 13 receptions, 166 yards, 1 TD |

### No. 1 Georgia

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 1 Georgia | 7 | 17 | 3 | 14 | 41 |
| Tennessee | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
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
| 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 |
| UGA | Rushing | James Cook | 10 carries, 104 yards, 2 TD |
| UGA | Receiving | Adonai Mitchell | 5 receptions, 65 yards |
| TENN | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 24/37, 244 yards, 1TD, 1 INT |
| TENN | Rushing | Jabari Small | 12 carries, 49 yards |
| TENN | Receiving | Cedric Tillman | 10 receptions, 200 yards, 1 TD |

### South Alabama

| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TENN –28.0 | 61 |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| South Alabama | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Tennessee | 14 | 21 | 14 | 11 | 60 |
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)
| Statistics | South Alabama | Tennessee |
| First downs | 13 | 28 |
| Total yards | 285 | 561 |
| Rushing yards | 69 | 250 |
| Passing yards | 216 | 311 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 37:00 | 23:00 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Alabama | Passing | Desmond Trotter | 19/32, 216 yards, 2 TDs |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Kareem Walker | 7 carries, 29 yards |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 7 receptions, 143 yards, 1 TD |
| Tennessee | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 17/20, 273 yards, 2 TDs |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Jaylen Wright | 13 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Velus Jones Jr. | 6 receptions, 103 yards |

### Vanderbilt

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Vanderbilt | 0 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 21 |
| Tennessee | 7 | 17 | 14 | 7 | 45 |
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)
| Statistics | VAN | TENN |
| First downs | 18 | 25 |
| Total yards | 321 | 441 |
| Rushing yards | 115 | 285 |
| Passing yards | 206 | 156 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 38:16 | 21:44 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Vanderbilt | Passing | Mike Wright | 16/31, 198 yards, TD, INT |
| Vanderbilt | Rushing | Rocko Griffin | 30 carries, 104 yards, TD |
| Vanderbilt | Receiving | Will Sheppard | 5 receptions, 98 yards, TD |
| Tennessee | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 10/18, 156 yards, 2 TD |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Jaylen Wright | 15 carries, 112 yards, TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Cedric Tillman | 6 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TD |

### Purdue

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Tennessee | 21 | 0 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 45 |
| Purdue | 7 | 16 | 7 | 15 | 3 | 48 |
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

Tennessee had five players selected in the 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 |