The Tennessee Vols have their first real test against N.C. State this week. The two teams will face off in the annual Duke’s Mayo Classic in Charlotte, NC.
Originally, this game was predicted to be a shootout against an ACC favorite and a sleeper team in the SEC. However, after both teams initial outings the opinion on this matchup has shifted. Along with public opinion, the spread of the game has shifted as well. What opened up as a 5.5 Tennessee favorite, is now a 7.5 favorite for the Vols. If the Vols want to win big, several players and position groups will have to be at the top of their game.
Previewing the Duke’s Mayo Classic, Vols vs N.C. State
Defensive Line
The defensive line was rather quiet in Tennessee’s opener against Chattanooga. This was due in part to Chattanooga’s particular scheme. The Mocs utilized quick passes and moved the pocket around to minimize the effect of players like James Pearce Jr. NC State throws more intermediate and deep routes, allowing more time for the defensive line to work. NC State also ran the ball well against Western Carolina. Their starter, Jordan Waters, had 20 carries for 133 yards and two touchdowns. Despite the good numbers, NC State’s offensive line looked rather abysmal against a far lesser FCS opponent. The Vols field a far better group than Western Carolina, so the defensive line should make quite an impact.
Players to Watch:
James Pearce Jr., Elijah Simmons, Omari Thomas, Tyre West.
The Secondary
The secondary performing well almost goes hand in hand with the defensive line. The longer the secondary can cover for, the longer the defensive line has to pressure the quarterback. NC State’s quarterback, Grayson McCall, torched Western Carolina’s defense for 318 yards and three touchdowns. The Vols will have their hands full with players like Kevin “KC” Concepcion who hauled in nine receptions for 121 yards and all three of the team’s receiving touchdowns.
Another player the secondary will have to keep a close eye on is tight end Justin Joly. Joly, who had five receptions for 75 yards against WCU, may have a chip on his shoulder going into this game after visiting with the Vols in the summer but being informed by the coaching staff that they were no longer interested. Shutting down these two threats in the passing game will go a long way in winning this game.
Players to Watch:
Andre Turrentine, Rickey Gibson III, Jermod McCoy.
Highest-graded Vols vs. UTC on PFF:
🥇 Dylan Sampson (89.7)
🥈 Tyre West (88.3)
🥉 Nico Iamaleava (87.3)
4 – Dont'e Thornton Jr. (85.2)
5 – Trey Weary (84.4)
6 – Keenan Pili (82.8)
7 – Cooper Mays (79.4)
8 – DeSean Bishop (75.7)
9 – Bru McCoy (75.6)➡️ https://t.co/PwIcwJzTEY pic.twitter.com/oIdK1pdaua
— Ryan Sylvia (@RyanTSylvia) September 1, 2024
Offensive Line
The offensive line did not face a serious challenge last week against Chattanooga. They will face their first real challenge of the season against N.C. State. The Wolfpack tallied two sacks last week and had four TFLs. We know veterans such as Cooper Mays, the preseason All-SEC center, and Javontez Spraggins, the starting left guard, will be up to the challenge, but it will be interesting to see if the group as a whole can perform well against better competition. The performance of the offensive line is vital to the Vols’ success in not only this matchup but their season as a whole.
Players to Watch:
John Campbell, Lance Heard, Cooper Mays.
Nico Iamaleava
No surprise here, it of course is important that Nico Iamaleava is on his game. Against Chattanooga, Iamaleava posted 314 yards and three touchdowns in just one half! The passing yards were a program record for a single half. The Wolfpack secondary did not have an ideal day in their week 1 matchup. The group gave up 241 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air to an FCS opponent. The Vols are far more equipped than the likes of Western Carolina, so the odds are in Iamaleava’s favor for a big day.
Nico Iamaleava is going to be so good
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 31, 2024
Running Backs
If the Vols are going to win big on Saturday, the run game will have to be working to a tee. The Vols passing game is entirely reliant on whether they can run the ball effectively or not. The good news is, the Vols have Dylan Sampson. Sampson racked up 153 yards of 12 carries and also scored three times. Backup DeSean Bishop also had a nice game, accounting for 70 rushing yards on five carries. N.C. State’s defense gave up 120 yards on the ground to Western Carolina. If Sampson and Bishop can get going early, the Vols might take off and never look back.
Players to Watch:
Dylan Sampson, DeSean Bishop, Peyton Lewis.
Overall, the Vols have a favorable matchup ahead of them this Saturday. If everything goes to plan, they should be able to take care of business and move on to Kent State as a 2-0 team. The Vols face off against N.C. State in the annual Duke’s Mayo Classic on Saturday, September 7th in Charlotte, NC.
Prediction
VOLS: 42
N.C. STATE: 21
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