The No. 24 Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Syracuse Orange 45-26 in a performance that silenced many of the concerns surrounding the Vols in the offseason.
Saturday’s matchup marked the debut of Tennessee transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar, who came from UCLA following the departure of Nico Iamaleava, who had transferred in the offseason.
The Vols also lost four of their starting offensive linemen, most of their wide receiver corps, and the 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, Dylan Sampson. Needless to say, Tennessee had many questions heading into its game against Syracuse. Here are some of the biggest takeaways from the Vols’ first game:
Joey Aguilar is the QB1
Aguilar had an outstanding outing for Tennessee in his first game wearing orange. The Vols’ new signal-caller went 16-for-28 with 247 yards through the air, including three passing touchdowns. He also showcased his running ability, finishing with 34 rushing yards on only six carries.
Not only did Aguilar excel statistically, but he also seemed poised in the pocket. Last season, the Vols gave up an average of 2.3 sacks per game, with a significant portion of that attributed to the previous quarterback’s decision-making. However, Aguilar was not sacked a single time against Syracuse.
Aguilar did overthrow a few screen passes, but overall, his ability to make quick decisions was the difference-maker for Tennessee’s offense.
Before arriving in Knoxville, Aguilar had an issue with turnovers. In 2024 alone, he threw 14 interceptions. By contrast, Tennessee has thrown only 18 interceptions since Josh Heupel became head coach in 2021. Thankfully for the Vols, Aguilar did not commit a turnover against Syracuse.
If Aguilar stays healthy and keeps the same pace he did in his debut, he could turn Tennessee into a dark-horse playoff contender by season’s end.
Tennessee’s Run Game Hasn’t Missed a Beat
Despite losing Sampson, Tennessee’s running game stayed on track. Last season, the Volunteers averaged 225.8 yards on the ground. On Saturday against Syracuse, the Vols rushed for 247 yards and averaged 6.2 yards per carry.
After sharing carries last season, many expected DeSean Bishop to be Tennessee’s primary running back to begin the year. Bishop was the first to start in the Syracuse game, and he excelled, rushing for 82 yards and a touchdown. He wasn’t the only rusher who stood out, though.
Duke Blue Devils transfer Star Thomas unexpectedly led the Vols with 92 rushing yards against Syracuse, showing flashes of becoming a breakout player. He also led in yards per carry (7.7) and caught a touchdown pass in the third quarter. Every time Thomas got the ball, he seemed poised for a first down.
Sophomore running back Peyton Lewis also shared carries, totaling 38 yards with a rushing touchdown. Although his stats didn’t compare to Tennessee’s other runners, he looked confident with the football and contributed to the Vols’ dominant ground game.
Freshman running back Daune Morris saw limited action, finishing with two carries for two yards.
Even if the Volunteers need to use four running backs to replicate Sampson’s success last season, Heupel is still finding ways for Tennessee’s rushing attack to thrive.
- Fun fact: The Vols’ offense gave up only three tackles for loss against Syracuse. That means Tennessee used more running backs (4) in the game than it allowed in tackles for loss (3).
The Vols’ Secondary is Legitimate
Heading into the Syracuse game, there were concerns about whether Tennessee’s defensive backfield would be as productive without All-America cornerback Jermod McCoy. Last season, McCoy led the Vols’ secondary, but he sustained a torn ACL in January and is expected to miss the first couple of games this year.
Even with McCoy’s absence, Tennessee’s defensive backs didn’t miss a beat. Colorado transfer cornerback Colton Hood was the biggest standout, leading the Vols with three pass deflections. Hood also returned a fumble for a 22-yard touchdown. Even when he wasn’t recording stats, he was stuck to receivers like glue.
Senior cornerback Jalen McMurray also had a breakout performance, recording seven tackles, one sack, and one pass deflection.
There were only a few concerns with Tennessee’s secondary against Syracuse. One notable aspect was the decline of preseason All-SEC safety Boo Carter, who managed only one tackle and allowed two fourth-down conversions. Although Carter struggled, it could stem from the practices he missed in the offseason. During the summer, it was confirmed that he skipped a few team meetings and practices, and he had to work his way back into the starting rotation.
Regardless of last season’s success, Carter did not play at the beginning of the game, and he struggled when he was on the field. However, he will hopefully pick up the slack as the season progresses.
The other issue for Tennessee’s defensive backs was their decline in the second half. The secondary started strong, but after halftime, numerous missed tackles allowed Syracuse to march down the field.
Overall, the Vols’ defensive backfield is a strength, and once they get McCoy back in the starting lineup, Tennessee could end up with the best secondary in the SEC.
