BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After Tennessee’s lights-out offensive performance on Homecoming against UT Martin, the Southeastern Conference office announced Monday afternoon that Tennessee senior guard Jerome Carvin has been named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week.
The Memphis native started at left guard and saw action on 48 offensive snaps in the 65-24 victory over the Skyhawks. Carvin did not allow sack, quarterback hit or hurry as the Vols piled up a Heupel-era high 696 yards of total offense—which stands as the second highest single-game total in school history.
Standing 6-5 and weighing 321 pounds, Carvin’s blocking helped the Vols rush for 201 yards on the afternoon, representing the fifth game this season with UT accumulating more than 200 yards on the ground. The senior also protected the pocket as Tennessee posted 495 yards through the air, its most since racking up 530 against Troy in 2012.
Paving the way for the nation’s No. 1 offense in terms of scoring (50.1) and total offense (571.7), Glen Elarbee‘s offensive line has been well recognized for its efforts on the gridiron. The unit was tabbed to the Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll last week, and Tennessee is the only program in the conference with three different players that have been named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week this season. Carvin joins Javontez Spraggins (Week 4 vs. Florida) and Darnell Wright (Week 7 vs. Alabama) as weekly conference honorees for the Big Orange offensive line room this fall.
Through the first eight weeks of the season, the Vols have earned 10 SEC weekly honors—the most of any team in the conference. UT’s 10 SEC weekly awards this year are its most in a single season since having 11 in 2004, which is the program record.
The No. 3/3 Vols look ahead to a ranked SEC East clash with No. 19/17 Kentucky Saturday night inside a sold-out Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET, with the game televised nationally on ESPN.
-UT Athletics