Tiyon Evans is pivotal to brand new Tennessee offense

Josh Heupel runs a version of the Art Briles offense. Tennessee hired the UCF head coach to utilize the veer and shoot offense that leans into wide splits and tempo.

Do not get things twisted. Heupel wants to spread defenses out to be able to run the football. The offense doesn’t work unless his team can effectively use the ground game.

“For us to be ultimately successful, you have to run the football,” said offensive coordinator Alex Golesh. “For us to be one-dimensional, I think it makes it really difficult because you live and die with it and you go three-and-out really, really quickly if that’s all you’re doing as well.

During the bye week, a banged up offense got time to heal. Tennessee will now enter the month of November with a healthy football team. That will be essential for the ground attack that ranks 13 nationally in rushing yards per game (226.13).

With the big numbers, there has been a committee-like approach to the Tennessee rushing attack this season. Seven players have recorded more than 25 carries with quarterback Hendon Hooker pacing the offense with 102 attempts. Hooker has had a ton of success with a 47.4 percent rushing success rate and 18 rushes going over 10 yards. However, he is not the key to the attack.

Junior college transfer Tiyon Evans has been the most efficient tailback in the SEC this season. Kentucky must get No. 8 to the ground on Saturday.

Tiyon Evans with a 92 yard TD for Tennessee. He’s so talented pic.twitter.com/2tdywAf0s9

— Charles Power (@CharlesPower) October 2, 2021

A four-star recruit out of Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, Evans put up solid numbers in junior college following a strong high school career in South Carolina. After the departure of Eric Gray to Oklahoma and seeing high school signee Cody Brown flip to Miami, the Vols had a big hole at tailback. Evans has helped fill it.

The junior leads the SEC with a 60 percent rushing success rate on 80 attempts and paces the Vols in rushing yards (516) despite missing two games with a sprained ankle. The 220-pound tailback has gone over 100 yards rushing in three games without receiving more than 16 carries. Evans has three rushes of 20-plus yards and averages 6.45 yards per attempt. He is the straw that stirs the drink.

Hooker settling things at quarterback makes him the MVP of the offense this season, but Evans gives the Vols a chance at reaching another level. In three years at UCF, the Knights ranked in the top 25 each in rushing offense. Establishing the ground attack is an essential part of Heupel’s approach. That is happening in Knoxville.

For Tennessee, everything starts and ends with the ground game. Tiyon Evans gives the offense its best weapon. Slowing down the junior college transfer will be pivotal on Saturday night at Kroger Field.

If Josh Heupel’s offense can establish the run, it will be a long night for any defense.