The Volquest stock report

Tennessee travels to Georgia Saturday to take on the Bulldogs in an epic top 3 showdown. The Vols have surprised everyone starting 8-0 and landing in the top spot with the college football playoffs.

Heading between the hedges, get the latest on who’s stock is up, who’s down and what’s stagnant with the Volquest stock report.

Stock up

Tennessee’s defensive interior — Stopping the Kentucky ground attack was priority one last week and Rodney Garner’s entire defensive front played well, but the catalyst was the play of the defensive interior. Da’Jon Terry and Omari Thomas forced Kentucky’s run game to go laterally because of penetration and it allowed the rest of the defense to rally to the ball and gang tackle. That inside group played really well and they have a heck of a challenge on their hands this week against a Georgia offense averaging 200 yards a game and 5.7 yards a carry— Brent Hubbs

Doneiko Slaughter— Slaughter may not love playing corner but he should after his play against Kentucky. Slaughter had an interception, and force a huge turnover in the first quarter. Not a bad night for a guy who hadn’t played corner this season. Slaughter started at safety the two previous games and slid to corner and made two plays no other Tennessee corner has made this season. — Austin Price

Stock down

Missed opportunities following turnovers —Tennessee’s defense forced 3 turnovers with the three interceptions and Tennessee turned them into just 7 points as the Vols missed a field goal and went 3 and out after the first interception. Tennessee’s offense must capitalize better in those situations this week if given that chance. When an offense gives you and extra possession you have to make them pay. 

In the third quarter against Kentucky, the Vols started two possession in Kentucky territory and only scored three points. You can’t miss those opportunities in this match up — Brent Hubbs

Chase McGrath —Call it a one off or hope that it was a one off, but McGrath who made the game winner against Alabama and a 51 yarder at Pitt didn’t have his best night against Kentucky. McGrath had a PAT blocked after a penalty and missed a 37 yard kid in the third quarter. Since beating Alabama, McGrath is 2 for 4. Tennessee needs him to be at his best at Georgia. — Austin Price

Stock stagnant

Secondary rotation— Tennessee should be healthier this week with Kamal Hadden likely to be available and maybe Christian Charles being back so what does Willie Martinez do in the secondary after Doneiko Slaughter’s play against Kentucky and Brandon Turnage’s play. Martinez rotated guys some Saturday will he do that again this week. Will he roll with the two guys in Slaughter and Turnage who made plays we haven’t seen out of the secondary this year at corner? Do they get creative and play three corners in their nickel sets? Going to be interesting to see how they use their personnel in the secondary this week. — Brent Hubbs 

Secondary health—Let’s stay with this as a flat stock. Tennessee says they will be healthier than they have been in the secondary, but no one expected Kamal Hadden to miss last week. Is he really going to be back? Is Christian Charles healthy or is that just talk? If everyone is healthy there could be some interesting decisions at corner this week, but really what is the health of the defensive backs? — Austin Price