The Tennessee Volunteers stars finished off their 2024 regular season in typical fashion, kicking in the teeth of rival Vanderbilt. Normally, this game plays very little factor in the outcome of the Volunteers’ season, but this year, the Volunteers needed a win to go to the College Football Playoffs.
After a very ugly start, the Volunteers turned it on and dominated Vanderbilt 36-23. It was a complete team win, but there were still several stars that stood out in this matchup.
Volunteers Stars of the Game
Dont’e Thornton Jr.
Dont’e Thornton Jr. was the spark that really got the Vols going against Vanderbilt. After going down 14-0 in the first quarter, Nico Iamaleava found Dont’e Thornton for a 26-yard score.
Thornton would later break loose on an 86-yard touchdown catch, to tie the game at 17-17. He finished the day with three catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns.
Thornton has seemingly established himself as Iamaleava’s #1 option in the passing game. His speed and deep-threat ability will be vital for the Vols in the College Football Playoffs.
Jermod McCoy
McCoy was once again the definition of a “shutdown corner” against Vanderbilt. Early in the second quarter, Vanderbilt was looking to score again to go up 24-7, but Jermod McCoy made an incredible play on the ball and ended up picking it off.
he picked this.@Jermodmccoy #GBO 🍊 pic.twitter.com/GSYOBFTKpd
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) November 30, 2024
This was McCoy’s fourth interception of the year, which is the most by a Vol since Nigel Warrior did it in 2019. McCoy also tallied four tackles and finished the game with a 76.7 PFF grade, the highest amongst the Vols defenders.
Jermod McCoy has turned out to be one of, if not the best acquisition the Vols made before the 2024 season. He is a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s best defensive back.
McCoy’s shutdown ability will be very crucial in the Volunteers going far in the playoffs.
A ball in the air is Jermod McCoy’s. pic.twitter.com/rZewqCJfE5
— Kerry Williams (@kerrywilliams_) November 30, 2024
Mike Matthews
The five-star true freshman finally received significant playing time against Vanderbilt, and he made the most of it. Matthews finished the game with three catches for 30 yards and a touchdown. That might not seem like much, but they were three important catches.
His lone touchdown came in the third quarter and allowed the Volunteers to truly begin to separate from Vanderbilt, going up 31-17. Matthews also made his presence felt in the blocking game as well, as he was a very efficient blocker.
Mike Matthews is my favorite freshman receiver ever. The dude loves to block. RARE to see from a freshman receiver. pic.twitter.com/wWWloUhbSk
— TorresOnTennessee (@TorresontheVols) December 1, 2024
Volunteers fans have been begging for Matthews to receive more playing time, and he definitely did this game. He was wide open on a lot of plays, but Iamaleava never looked his way. This is something that will be seen on film, and fixed in practice. This is the perfect time for the Vols to add another elite wrinkle to their offense.
Nico Iamaleava
Iamaleava had by far his best game in conference play against Vanderbilt. He was extremely accurate and only had one truly bad throw.
The young quarterback finished the game completing 18 of his 26 passes for 257 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. He also had six rushes for 42 yards.
Over the last few weeks, it has been visible that Iamaleava was starting to put it all together, and it was on full display against Vanderbilt. As mentioned before, there were nowhere near the amount of missed throws as there have been in previous games.
If Iamaleava has indeed finally put it all together, Tennessee will be more of a threat in the playoffs than they were originally depicted to be.
Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava vs Vanderbilt:
🟠 18/26
🟠 257 YDS
🟠 4 TDS
🟠 1 INT@Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/XmmWVwJMXj— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 30, 2024
Despite falling behind early, the Vols rallied and took care of business. Outside of the first quarter, this game wasn’t close. The team did exactly what they needed to do to ensure their spot in the College Football Playoffs. Now due to the other teams’ inability to do so, the Vols may even get to host a home playoff game.
The Volunteers stars will be back in action during the College Football Playoff. We will have to wait and see how Championship Weekend plays out to determine who and where the Volunteers will play.
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