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Game Recap: Football | September 14, 2024 | Eric Trainer

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Dylan Sampson ran for four first-half touchdowns, as No. 7/9 Tennessee exploded for 37 first-quarter points en route to a record-setting 71-0 shutout of Kent State in front of a sellout crowd of 101,915 on Saturday night at Neyland Stadium.

The Vols (3-0) surpassed their previous scoring standard in a quarter (35), which was set in an opening period at home vs. Arkansas on Nov. 11, 2000. They proceeded to produce a modern era (1937-present) scoring best in a half as well, rolling up 65 points in the opening 30 minutes to topple the previous pinnacle of 52 in the first half vs. UT Martin on Oct. 22, 2022. Their final point total also was a modern-day best, replacing the old mark from a 70-3 win over the University of Louisiana Monroe on Sept. 23, 2000, and it stands as the most generated by the squad from Rocky Top since 1929.    

Additionally, Saturday night’s scoring onslaught vs. the Golden Flashes (0-3) made it the first time since 1913 and only the second time in program annals that the Big Orange tallied 50 points in each of its first three games. UT put 69 and 51 on the scoreboard in its first two outings this season vs. Chattanooga and NC State, while the 1913 squad featured a 58-0 win over Carson-Newman, a 95-0 whitewashing of Athens and a 75-0 shutout of Maryville.

Individually, Sampson rushed for 66 yards and three scores in the first 15 minutes and finished with 101 yards and four TDs on 13 attempts. He became the first Vol in the modern era with four rushing touchdowns in a half and tied the modern-day school single-game record with that total. DeSean Bishop joined Sampson with a 100-yard day of his own, carding his first effort above the century mark as a Vol with 120 yards and a career-high two touchdowns on only seven carries.

Quarterback Nico Iamaleava finished 10-of-16 passing for 173 yards and a long touchdown pass to Chris Brazzell II in the first quarter. The signal-caller helped the Vols to a 541 to 23 differential in total yardage in the first half, including a 21-3 advantage in first downs. Tennessee finished with a 740 to 112 edge, with the Vols’ offensive production setting a program record and tying as the 10th best in SEC history. Its 456 yards rushing ranks as the fourth highest in the school record book.

Defensively, Tennessee limited the Golden Flashes to an opponent’s lowest total yardage of the Josh Heupel era with that 112 mark. The previous low of 143 came last Saturday night vs. NC State. UT also extended its streak of not allowing an offensive touchdown to 16 straight quarters.

After forcing Kent State to a three-and-out on the game’s first possession, the Vols needed only seven plays and a minute and 25 seconds to seize the lead. Sampson burst off left tackle and raced into the north end zone from 22 yards out to cap a warp-speed 73-yard drive. Max Gilbert’s PAT staked the Vols to a 7-0 advantage with 11:33 remaining in the opening stanza.

On the next drive for the Golden Flashes, a bad snap from center on third and 10 from the KSU 25 resulted in a safety, making it 9-0 Vols with 10:35 remaining. UT then accepted the ensuing kick and navigated 48 yards in seven plays, with Sampson plunging in from the one. Gilbert’s PAT boosted the lead to 16-0 with 8:11 still on the clock in the first frame.

Tennessee struck three times more in the first period, getting a 51-yard touchdown pass from Iamaleava to Brazzell at the 5:56 mark, a 53-yard TD run from Bishop with 3:35 left and Sampson’s third scoring run of the day, once again from a yard out. Gilbert booted all three PATs to send the Vols into the second frame with an eye-popping 37-0 lead.

Bishop continued the Big Orange scoring parade in the second quarter, carrying 47 yards for his second score with 13:06 remaining, and then Sampson added his fourth via a 14-yard scamper at the 7:49 mark. Reserve quarterback Gaston Moore came on in relief of Iamaleava and carded his first two career TD tosses, connecting with tight end Miles Kitselman for a 15-yard strike with 3:06 left before the half and then firing an 18-yard dart to wide receiver Mike Matthews with 19 seconds remaining. Gilbert was good on all four PATs, sending UT into the locker room with a 65-0 lead.

With the foot off the gas and reserves manning all the positions, the Vols scored just twice in the second half. Max Gilbert kicked field goals of 36 and 21 in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, to close out the scoring.

UP NEXT
Tennessee begins Southeastern Conference play next Saturday night, as it travels to Norman to take on No. 15/13 Oklahoma (3-0) in Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET, and the contest will be televised by ABC.

Football games are won and lost in the trenches, and Tennessee’s offensive line has become more than a collection of talented athletes. They have created a bond that transcends the field, becoming brothers through the shared sacrifice and relentless hard work needed to win those battles on Saturdays. It’s evident that this unit’s strength lies not only in their physicality, but in the unbreakable camaraderie that has formed in the weight room, practice field and locker room.

A Brotherhood Unlike Any Other

Center Cooper Mays, a fifth-year veteran and preseason first team All-American, perfectly captures the essence of the brotherhood shared among the offensive line.

“It’s a fantastic brotherhood that brings you closer together than any other experience in life,” Mays said. “You see their true sides come out, especially after fall camp and going through the dog days of summer with them. It just brings you closer together.” 

Mays’ words reflect the gritty reality of being an offensive lineman—a role that demands not only physical endurance but trust and loyalty between teammates.

The offensive line is often considered the heart of the team, but it’s a position that doesn’t always receive glory. These players rarely score touchdowns or make it onto highlight reels, yet they play a critical role in every offensive play. The pressure to perform builds strong relationships, as they know they must rely on one another to ensure the success of the drive.

It’s a fantastic brotherhood that brings you closer together than any other experience in life. You see their true sides come out, especially after fall camp and going through the dog days of summer with them. It just brings you closer together.

Cooper Mays

Diverse Backgrounds, Unified Goal

Gearing up for his 40th start this weekend against Kent State, right guard Javontez Spraggins, another key piece of this experienced line, speaks to the diversity within the group and how it has strengthened them.

“We have a bunch of different guys from a bunch of different places, coming together to complete one goal and one purpose,” the fifth-year senior said. “It’s pretty diverse, but when you bring us all together, that camaraderie unites us for one purpose.”

That purpose is clear: winning football games. Tennessee’s offensive line has been a semifinalist in back-to-back years for the Joe Moore Award – which recognizes the best offensive line unit in college football – speaking volumes about the hard work that the Vols’ offensive line and coaching staff has put in. The group has protected and paved the way for one of the top rushing attacks in college football under head coach Josh Heupel.

With four of last year’s starters returning, including Mays, Spraggins, and tackle John Campbell Jr., the group’s chemistry is unmatched. Campbell, now in his seventh collegiate year and second at Tennessee, could have moved on but chose to return, driven by the relationships he’s built in Knoxville.

“I just wanted to stay with the guys, that O-Line room,” Campbell said. “Those are my boys … I love the room; it’s just great people in there. If you see somebody down, they’re going to pick them up. It’s just a brotherhood as an O-Line room. We’re all servants, that’s what we’re held for. I just love to be with those guys.”

Campbell’s decision underscores the depth of the connection these linemen share. More than just teammates, they are brothers in arms, pushing each other through adversity and celebrating each other’s victories.

A Culture of Support

At the helm of the O-Line room fostering this brotherhood is offensive line coach Glen Elarbee. Elarbee has instilled a culture that’s not just X’s and O’s, focusing on building a family atmosphere within the group.

“We talk about it all the time; there’s stuff outside of football that we talk about. There are things in life,” Elarbee explained. “We were in there after chapel the other day, and I was telling them, ‘I know I don’t say it enough, but I love every single one of you in here.'”

We have a bunch of different guys from a bunch of different places, coming together to complete one goal and one purpose. It’s pretty diverse, but when you bring us all together, that camaraderie unites us for one purpose.

Javontez Spraggins

Elarbee’s approach has clearly resonated with his players, many of whom opted to stay at Tennessee for another year rather than pursue professional opportunities. This decision speaks to the atmosphere he’s helped create.

“I think there’s a family in that room, and they enjoy being in it,” Elarbee said. “It’s a healthy, fun environment. When it’s time to get to work, by gosh, it has to happen, but we enjoy playing the game too.”

Once in the family, you are always in the family — as evidenced by Elarbee and Heupel adding Parker Ball, a former Vol offensive lineman, to the staff as a graduate assistant. Elarbee praised Ball’s football intelligence, calling him “the smartest guy in this building.” Ball’s presence not only reinforces the sense of continuity within the unit, but also provides another layer of support for the linemen, further emphasizing the “family” feel of the group.

Off the Field Bonds

Additionally, the best team building happens off the field away from the bright lights and cameras. Whether they’re in the locker room or outside the facility, the O-Line remains inseparable. The group enjoys a good steak at Dayne Davis’ house, EA College Football 25 and fishing along the Tennessee River, among other activities.

This off-field connection is just as crucial to the offensive line’s success as the on-field performance. Football is a demanding sport, both physically and mentally, and having teammates who double as close friends can make all the difference when it comes to maintaining focus and motivation throughout a grueling season.

“We’re always together,” Spraggins said. “Being around each other and the camaraderie, all that makes a difference when you’re coming together on the field to complete a task.”

The Road Ahead

The 2024 season looks like another promising one for this offensive line. The unit boasts a combined 123 collegiate starts, with Spraggins leading the way with 39. Mays has gone 16 consecutive games without allowing a sack and touts 34 career starts in the middle of the trenches. This sustained success is a display of their skill, discipline, and – perhaps most importantly – their chemistry with one another.

Newcomer Lance Heard, a former five-star recruit, adds even more depth to an already loaded unit. After transferring from LSU, where he earned SEC All-Freshman honors, Heard has quickly integrated himself into the line’s culture. Senior Andrej Karic has earned the starting nod at left guard after returning from injury, bringing with him four years of experience at the Power Five level.

With these pieces in place, the Vols’ offensive line looks poised to continue its dominance. But as the players will continue to say, their success isn’t just about talent or technique.

“Look to your left, look to your right, and say, ‘Let’s go.’ That’s just how it is,” Spraggins said. “The coaches know that once we put our five guys out there, we’re going to get the job done.”

For Tennessee’s offensive line, football is more than a game; it’s a shared journey. Through the grind of practice and the heat of competition, they’ve become a unit defined not only by their impressive stats, but by the strength of their relationships. They play for one another, and that connection could be the key to their success as they set their expectations high. Whether it’s in the trenches or around the grill, the bond these linemen share makes them more than just a group of players—it makes them a family.