2021 Tennessee Volunteers football team
The 2021 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Volunteers played their home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, and competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by first-year coach Josh Heupel.
| 2021 Tennessee Volunteers football | |
|---|---|
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Music City Bowl vs. Purdue, L 45–48OT | |
| Conference | Southeastern Conference |
| East Division | |
| 2021 record | 7-6 (4–4 SEC) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Alex Golesh (1st season) |
| Offensive scheme | Spread |
| Defensive coordinator | Tim Banks (1st season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 multiple |
| Home stadium | Neyland Stadium |
| 2021 Southeastern Conference football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 1 Georgia x#^ | 8 | – | 0 | 14 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 18 Kentucky | 5 | – | 3 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Missouri | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | 3 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 2 | – | 6 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt | 0 | – | 8 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 2 Alabama x$^ | 7 | – | 1 | 13 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 11 Ole Miss | 6 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 21 Arkansas | 4 | – | 4 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi State | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas A&M | 4 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship: Alabama 41, Georgia 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Recruiting class
| Ranking | Position | Name | Home State |
|---|---|---|---|
| ★★★★ | OT | Addison Nichols | Georgia |
| ★★★★ | QB | Tayven Jackson | Indiana |
| ★★★★ | WR | Cameron Miller | Tennessee |
| ★★★ | EDGE | Joshua Josephs | Georgia |
| ★★★ | TE | Brody Foley | Ohio |
| ★★★ | WR | Marquarius White | Alabama |
| ★★★ | WR | Chase Nimrod | Arkansas |
| ★★★ | RB | Dylan Simpson | Louisiana |
| ★★★ | OG | Maurice Clipper | Georgia |
| ★★★ | OT | Brian Grant | Florida |
| ★★★ | OG | Masai Reddick | Michigan |
| ★★★ | DT | Jordan Phillips | Florida |
| ★★★ | LB | Elijah Herring | Tennessee |
| ★★★ | LB | Kalib Perry | Kentucky |
Coaching staff
| Name | Position[1] | Joined Staff |
|---|---|---|
| Josh Heupel | Head Coach | 2021 |
| Tim Banks | Defensive Coordinator | 2021 |
| Kodi Burns | Wide Receivers | 2021 |
| Mike Ekeler | Outside Linebackers / Special Teams Coordinator | 2021 |
| Glen Elarbee | Offensive Line | 2021 |
| Rodney Garner | Defensive Line | 2021 |
| Alex Golesh | Offensive Coordinator / Tight Ends | 2021 |
| Joey Halzle | Quarterbacks | 2021 |
| Brian Jean-Mary | Linebackers | 2021 |
| Jerry Mack | Running Backs | 2021 |
| Willie Martinez | Secondary | 2021 |
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2 | 8:00 p.m. | Bowling Green* | SECN | W 38–6 | 84,314 | |||
| September 11 | Noon | Pittsburgh* |
| ESPN | L 34–41 | 82,203 | ||
| September 18 | Noon | Tennessee Tech* |
| ESPN+/SECN+ | W 56–0 | 80,053 | ||
| September 25 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 11 Florida | ESPN | L 14–38 | 88,478 | |||
| October 2 | Noon | at Missouri | SECN | W 62–24 | 45,655 | |||
| October 9 | Noon | South Carolina |
| ESPN2 | W 45–20 | 89,437 | ||
| October 16 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 13 Ole Miss |
| SECN | L 26–31 | 102,455 | ||
| October 23 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 4 Alabama | ESPN | L 24–52 | 100,077 | |||
| November 6 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 18 Kentucky | ESPN2 | W 45–42 | 61,690 | |||
| November 13 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 1 Georgia |
| CBS | L 17–41 | 100,074 | ||
| November 20 | 7:30 p.m. | South Alabama* |
| ESPNU | W 60–14 | 75,203 | ||
| November 27 | 3:45 p.m. | Vanderbilt |
| SECN | W 45–21 | 77,349 | ||
| December 30 | 3:00 p.m. | vs. Purdue* | ESPN | L 45–48OT | 69,489 | |||
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Game summaries
Bowling Green
Bowling Green at Tennessee
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Tennessee | 14 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 38 |
at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
- Date: September 2
- Game time: 8:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Sunny, 77 °F (25 °C)
- Game attendance: 84,314
- Referee: Steve Marlowe
- TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color) and Cole Cubelic (sidelines)
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh at Tennessee
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | 0 | 27 | 7 | 7 | 41 |
| Tennessee | 10 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
- Date: September 11
- Game time: Noon
- Game weather: Sunny, 71 °F (22 °C)
- Game attendance: 82,203
- Referee: Stuart Mullins
- TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (color) and Tom Luginbill (sidelines)
Tennessee Tech
Tennessee Tech at Tennessee
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Tech | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tennessee | 14 | 14 | 21 | 7 | 56 |
at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
- Date: September 18
- Game time: Noon
- Game weather: Sunny, 75 °F (24 °C)
- Game attendance: 80,053
- Referee: Kyle Olson
- TV announcers (SECN+/ESPN+): Kevin Brown (play-by-play), Hutson Mason (color) and Abby Labar (sidelines)
at No. 11 Florida
Tennessee at No. 11 Florida
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| No. 11 Florida | 10 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL
- Date: September 25
- Game time: 7:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Cloudy, 80 °F (27 °C)
- Game attendance: 88,478
- Referee: Matt Loeffler
- TV announcers (ESPN): Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (color), and Katie George (sidelines)
at Missouri
Tennessee at Missouri
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 28 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 62 |
| Missouri | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
at Faurot Field, Columbia, MO
- Date: October 2
- Game time: Noon
- Game weather: Rain, 72 °F (22 °C)
- Game attendance: 45,655
- Referee: David Smith
- TV announcers (SECN): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Deuce McAllister (color), and Andraya Carter (sidelines)
South Carolina
South Carolina at Tennessee
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 0 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
| Tennessee | 28 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 45 |
at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
- Date: October 9
- Game time: Noon
- Game weather: Sunny, 70 °F (21 °C)
- Game attendance: 89,437
- Referee: James Carter
- TV announcers (ESPN2): Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Mike Golic Jr. (color), and Taylor McGregor (sidelines)
No. 13 Ole Miss
No. 13 Ole Miss at Tennessee
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 13 Ole Miss | 10 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
| Tennessee | 9 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 26 |
at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
- Date: October 16
- Game time: 7:30 pm
- Game weather: Sunny, 59 °F (15 °C)
- Game attendance: 102,455
- Referee: Marc Curles
- TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color) and Cole Cubelic (sidelines)
The game was delayed for nearly 20 minutes in the 4th quarter as some Tennessee fans started to throw objects onto the field, including a golf ball that hit Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin in the leg. The eruption occurred after officials ruled that Tennessee tight end Jacob Warren was short on 4th-and-24 with just under a minute left to play.[3] On the Monday following the game, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey announced that Tennessee would be fined $250,000 due to the fans' actions.[4]
at No. 4 Alabama
Tennessee at No. 4 Alabama
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 14 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
| No. 4 Alabama | 7 | 14 | 3 | 28 | 52 |
at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AL
- Date: October 23
- Game time: 7:00 pm
- Game weather: Sunny, 72 °F (22 °C)
- Game attendance: 100,077
- Referee: Alex Moore
- TV announcers (ESPN): Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (color), and Katie George (sidelines)
at No. 18 Kentucky
Tennessee at No. 16 Kentucky
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 14 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 45 |
| No. 18 Kentucky | 7 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
at Kroger Field, Lexington, KY
- Date: November 6
- Game time: 7:00 pm
- Game weather: Sunny, 46 °F (8 °C)
- Game attendance: 61,690
- Referee: Steve Marlowe
- TV announcers (ESPN2): Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (color), and Dawn Davenport (sidelines)
No. 1 Georgia
No. 1 Georgia at Tennessee
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Georgia | 7 | 17 | 3 | 14 | 41 |
| Tennessee | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
- Date: November 13
- Game time: 3:30 pm
- Game weather: Sunny, 49 °F (9 °C)
- Game attendance: 100,074
- Referee: James Carter
- TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color) and Jamie Erdahl (sidelines)
South Alabama
South Alabama at Tennessee
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Alabama | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Tennessee | 14 | 21 | 14 | 11 | 60 |
at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
- Date: November 20
- Game time: 7:30 pm
- Game weather: Cloudy, 46 °F (8 °C)
- Game attendance: 75,203
- Referee: Jason Autrey
- TV announcers (ESPNU): Clay Matvick (play-by-play) and Rocky Boiman (color)
Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt at Tennessee
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt | 0 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 21 |
| Tennessee | 7 | 17 | 14 | 7 | 45 |
at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
- Date: November 27
- Game time: 3:45 pm
- Game weather: Sunny, 46 °F (8 °C)
- Game attendance: 77,349
- Referee: David Smith
- TV announcers (SECN): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Deuce McAllister (color), and Andraya Carter (sidelines)
Purdue
2021 TransPerfect Music City Bowl
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 21 | 0 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 45 |
| Purdue | 7 | 16 | 7 | 15 | 3 | 48 |
at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
- Date: December 30
- Game time: 3:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Cloudy, 57 °F (14 °C)
- Game attendance: 69,489
- Referee: Jerry Magallanes
- TV announcers (ESPN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color), and Cole Cubelic (sidelines)
Players drafted into the NFL
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 49 | Alontae Taylor | CB | New Orleans Saints |
| 3 | 71 | Velus Jones Jr | WR | Chicago Bears |
| 5 | 175 | Matthew Butler | DT | Las Vegas Raiders |
| 6 | 199 | Cade Mays | OG | Carolina Panthers |
| 6 | 204 | Theo Jackson | S | Tennessee Titans |
References
- "Football Coaches". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
- "2021 Tennessee Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- Wilson, Mike (October 17, 2021). "How Tennessee Vols fans trashed end of Ole Miss game vs. Lane Kiffin". Knox News. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- Low, Chris (October 18, 2021). "SEC Fines Tennessee Volunteers $250k for fan behavior at end of loss to Ole Miss Rebels". ESPN. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
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