KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee will close out its 2017 regular season schedule against SEC in-state rival Vanderbilt on Saturday at Neyland Stadium. The game will feature a 4 p.m. ET kickoff on SEC Network.
Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Matt Stinchcomb (analyst) will be in the booth and Dawn Davenport will report from the sidelines. Vol Network radio affiliates will have a live audio broadcast with Bob Kesling, Tim Priest, Brent Hubbs and Maddy Glab. Sirius Channel 157 and XM Channel 192 will also carry a live audio broadcast.
Tennessee (4-7, 0-7 SEC) is coming off a 30-10 home loss to LSU on Nov. 18. Redshirt freshman quarterback Jarrett Guarantano completed 13 of 23 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown but the Tigers’ dominance in the running game (LSU’s 200 yards to UT’s 38) proved to be too much.
Last week, Vanderbilt (4-7, 0-7 SEC) suffered a 45-17 home loss to Missouri. Junior quarterback Kyle Shurmur went 28-for-53 for 348 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in the loss.
Tennessee will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday as 22 seniors with make their final appearance at Neyland Stadium. This year’s senior class has combined for 29 wins over the past four seasons. The 2017 seniors led UT to three-consecutive bowl victories, marking the first time in Tennessee program history that had happened. Fans should arrive early to catch the Senior Day ceremony on the field as each senior will hear his name called as he runs through the T for one final time. The Senior Day ceremony will start at approximately 3:53 p.m. ET.
Tennessee-Vanderbilt History
This year’s game marks the 111th all-time meeting between Tennessee and Vanderbilt. UT is 75-30-5 all-time against Vanderbilt and the Vols have won two of the last three matchups. Tennessee is 38-10-1 against the Commodores when the game is played in Knoxville.
UT has won 31 of its last 35 games against Vanderbilt, including a 22-game winning streak in the series from 1983-2004.
In 2016, Vanderbilt took a 45-34 win in Nashville. Last season’s matchup was an offensive showcase as Vanderbilt tallied 608 yards of total offense and Tennessee had 516. UT’s John Kelly carried the ball nine times for 52 yards and Ethan Wolfcaught four passes for 33 yards. Shurmer went 21-for-34 for 416 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and Ralph Webb rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.
Senior Day
The 22 seniors who will be honored before the game are:
Scholarship Players
- LB Elliott Berry
- RS/DB Evan Berry
- P Trevor Daniel
- WR Jeff George
- TE Jakob Johnson
- OL Jack Jones
- LB Colton Jumper
- OL Brett Kendrick
- DB Justin Martin
- LB Cortez McDowell
- PK Aaron Medley
- DB Emmanuel Moseley
- OL Jashon Robertson
- WR Josh Smith
- OL Coleman Thomas
- DT Kendal Vickers
- DB Shaq Wiggins
- TE Ethan Wolf
Walk-Ons
- WR Logan Fetzner
- PK Holden Foster
- H Parker Henry
- WR Thomas Orradre
Senior Leaders
Redshirt senior Kendal Vickers is a three-year starter at defensive tackle, leading the Vols’ defense with 37 starts – all consecutive. Vickers has played in 42 career games, posting 103 tackles (39 solo), 3.0 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
Senior Ethan Wolf will cap his career as one of the greatest tight ends in Rocky Top history. He ranks No. 2 among UT tight ends in career receptions (89) and No. 3 in receiving yards (958). He leads the Vols with 46 starts.
Senior offensive lineman Jashon Robertson is a 4-year starter with 45 starts (26 at left guard, 13 at right guard, six at center) under his belt.
Former walk-ons Colton Jumper and Trevor Daniel have been leaders in 2017. Jumper, a linebacker, tops the Vols in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (9.5) and has 17 starts in his career. Daniel is on pace to set the UT record for single-season punting average as he ranks fourth in the nation with 47.3 yards per punt (Tennessee record is 46.9). Daniel’s 45.8-yard career punting average ranks third nationally among active punters and is also the best mark in UT history.
Thanksgiving Team Meal
On Wednesday, Tennessee interim head coach Brady Hoke said that the team will have a morning practice on Thursday and then celebrate Thanksgiving as a team. Hoke said with the team’s families, over 400 people are expected for the meal.
“We are going to be thankful for what we all have and it gives an opportunity for those who possibly couldn’t get somewhere for Thanksgiving to have it with their team,” Hoke said. “I really believe it is part of being a football team. As a head coach, I’ve done this everywhere I’ve been, and so it’s something that I think will be special.”
Hoke added that one of his favorite Thanksgiving side dishes are pumpkin pie and his aunt’s date nut pudding.
Smith Continues Historic Rookie Season
Offensive lineman Trey Smith became the first Vol in the last 30 years to start at left tackle as a true freshman when he started at left tackle against Southern Miss. He started at left tackle against Missouri and LSU as well.
Smith had his best game of the season against an LSU defensive line featuring several future NFL players. Playing on a line that featured only four scholarship players in the second half, the Vols’ freshman had a season-best grade of 84 percent and tallied five knockdowns.
Smith leads the Vols with 53 knockdowns on the year and he is the second-highest graded UT offensive lineman behind only senior Jashon Robertson. He is a candidate for Freshman All-America, All-SEC and All-America honors.
PFF College rates Smith, who was the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the class of 2017 according to ESPN, as its highest-graded overall freshman in the SEC.
Kelly Leads UT in Rushing, Receptions
Junior running back John Kelly (758 rush yards, 36 catches) joins Penn State’s Saquon Barkley (1,057 rush yards, 46 catches) as the only two players in the Power 5 to lead their teams in rushing and receptions.
-UT Athletics
