Rapid Reaction: Tennessee destroys Akron in tune-up for Florida

The Tennessee Vols easily handled business against the Akron Zips in Neyland Stadium on Saturday night, winning 63-6. Tennessee showed off their high-powered offense via several long touchdown plays, including a 48-yard touchdown pass from Hendon Hooker to Jalin Hyatt and a 57-yard touchdown pass from Joe Milton to Ramel Keyton. It was a fun […]

Zach Ragan — Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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Tennessee Vols

The Tennessee Vols easily handled business against the Akron Zips in Neyland Stadium on Saturday night, winning 63-6.

Tennessee showed off their high-powered offense via several long touchdown plays, including a 48-yard touchdown pass from Hendon Hooker to Jalin Hyatt and a 57-yard touchdown pass from Joe Milton to Ramel Keyton.

It was a fun night for the 101,915 fans who packed the stands at Neyland Stadium for the program's first non-conference sellout since the Oklahoma game in 2015.

Here are a few quick takeaways from the win.

Tennessee Vols
Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) gets the catch over Akron cornerback Jalen Hooks (29) during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, September 17, 2022 in Knoxville, Tenn. Tillman left the game after this play with a lower body injury.Utvakron0917
  • Vols wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, who caught 5 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns, is the best-kept secret in the SEC. But he won't be a secret for much longer. Hyatt is a budding superstar.
  • Joe Milton is one of the best backup quarterbacks in the SEC. Milton looks much improved from last season after throwing a pair of long touchdowns in the second half against Akron. Milton's improvement says a lot about the way Josh Heupel's staff develops quarterbacks.
  • Tennessee's pass rush is much better than everyone thought it was after the season-opener against Ball State (a game in which the Vols had no sacks). UT practically lived in Akron's backfield on Saturday night.
  • Wide receiver Squirrel White is loaded with potential. And he should be the Vols' primary punt returner after an impressive 23-yard return (that could've gone for more but he got tripped up).
  • Jaylen Wright is probably the Vols' best option at running back, assuming he can hang onto the ball. True freshman Dylan Sampson, however, is breathing down his and Jabari Small's back. Sampson averaged 7.1 yards per carry against Akron.
  • Speaking of Small, he left the game early due to injury. Wide receiver Cedric Tillman left due to injury as well. Heupel didn't seem concerned about either injury when he spoke to ESPN after the half.
  • Hendon Hooker now has touchdown passes in 15 straight games. The Tennessee record is 18 set by Heath Shuler.
  • Wide receiver Jimmy Calloway likely won't play against Florida after being ejected for throwing multiple punches at an Akron player. He'll also probably be in Heupel's doghouse for a bit after the foolish decision.
  • Akron quarterback DJ Irons can do damage with his legs, but the Vols were able to contain him. Irons rushed for just four yards. That bodes well for Tennessee as they'll have to contain Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson next Saturday.

Featured image via Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

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