Five firework worthy moments for Tennessee football in 2023
No one loves fireworks more than Tennessee athletic director Danny White and over the past year White had plenty of opportunities to shoot them off as his athletic programs achieved great success in what is arguably the best in in Tennessee sports.
So on this Independence Day here are my top five “back it up Terry moments” for Tennessee football in 2023.
Dee Williams punt return vs. Texas A&M
Dee Williams was electric the first time he touched the ball on a punt return in Baton Rouge in 2022. In 2023 against Texas A&M, the Vol offense was having a tough day. The Vols ran for 232 yards but was dreadful throwing the ball for just 100 years on 50% passing. The offense was just 3 for 5 in the red zone with an interception.
The struggles forced Josh Heupel to play some old school defensive field position football. Facing 4th and 11 at midfield Jackson Ross pinned the Aggies back at the one thanks to some great footwork by Williams. After going no where on 3 plays, A&M was forced to punt from their own end zone. Williams fielded the low liner around the 40 yard line, made an Aggie miss and out ran everyone to the end zone giving Tennessee a 14-10 leaved on there way to a 20-13 victory.
It was the firework play on a day full of duds for the offense.
Kamal Hadden pick six
A year earlier at South Carolina, Kamal Hadden and the defense had a nightmare night and Hadden didn’t help himself by bickering with the South Carolina sideline while down multiple touchdowns. A year later, Shane Beamer got greedy and Hadden made them pay.
Down by a touchdown and backed up, the Gamecocks elected to be aggressive on 3rd and 22 from their own 24 with less than a minute to play in the half. Pearce beat the left tackle off the snap pressuring Spencer Rattler and forcing a high throw that Hadden pounced on a touchdown, a 14 point lead at the half with the ball to start the second half. Can you say rout?
Final score — 41-20.
James Pearce pick six
James Pearce had made plays for the Vols all year starting with the season opener against Virginia. He showed up every week proving hie was an elite pass rusher. He showed he was more than just an edge guy on a few occasions. In the Texas A&M game he made an open field tackle on a receiver he went in motion with and made a heck of a play.
Then he created fireworks in Orlando when he dropped into coverage and intercepted a pass from Deacon Hill returning it 52 yards for a touchdown. Was it the greatest play Pearce made in 2024? No.
But seeing him drop into coverage and then watch him run away from everyone was impressive. Pearce hit 23 MPH on the return, one of 15 players to do that last season according to PFF and he did it at 240+ pounds.
Iowa was never going to beat Tennessee, but the pick six was a wow, this guy is really special fireworks moment.
Milton to Castles end of the first half at Alabama
Joe Milton can throw objects far including footballs. But one of the areas where he grew in 2023 was in his touch and his best touch throw and one of his best plays in 2023 came at the end of the first half at Alabama. Facing 3rd and goal, Heupel and his staff took their final timeout and guessed the Tide’s defense perfectly. Alabama was in zero coverage (man to man) with an all out blitz.
Milton showed poise in retreating to give tight end McCallan Castles time to run a post corner and then off his back foot, Milton dropped an absolute dime. Milton could not have executed better on that play.
The touchdown gave Tennessee a 20-7 half time lead and all the momentum going into the locker room.
Unfortunately, the Vols couldn’t capitalize on it in the second half.
Jaylen Wright house call against UGA
Everyone in orange and white knew that the Vols were facing an uphill climb as they hosted Georgia at home.
The Vols needed a fast start and got exactly what they needed.
Senior Jaylen Wright showed everyone his elite speed when he went 75 yards on the first play from scrimmage as he made the house call.
It was the highlight of the day for the Vols, but it was a firework moment as Neyland was alive and buzzing with the fantastic start.
