By Jimmy Hyams

(This is the first in a two-part series about the highs and lows of Josh Heupel’s first season as Tennessee’s football coach. First, the highs.)

Many fans and media predicted Tennessee would win only four games this past season.

The optimistic ones ventured out and forecast six wins. I was one of the optimists.

Several factors were taken into account: The eventual loss of 45 players that could have been on the roster; the hiring of a head coach without head coaching experience on the Power 5 level; uncertainty at quarterback.

Then there was the dark cloud of the NCAA investigation that hung over the program’s head like a rotten tomato.

Tennessee managed a 7-5 regular season, confounding the oddsmakers.

Here are the five highlights of Tennessee’s 2021 season, focusing mainly on players.

Hendon Hooker

Many considered Hendon Hooker an afterthought when it came to the quarterback battle.

The Virginia Tech transfer had not distinguished himself in 15 starts for the Hookies, except to record two 150-yard rushing games.

Hooker lost the UT battle to Michigan transfer Joe Milton, an athletic, physically gifted player with a huge arm but questionable decision making.

When Milton was injured against Pitt, it opened the door for Hooker. And he shined.

Hooker ended the season ranked in the top five nationally in pass efficiency rating (182.0). He completed 68% of his passes for 2,945 yards, 31 touchdowns with only three interceptions while rushing for 620 yards and five scores.

He was one of the SEC’s top five quarterbacks (along with Bryce Young, Matt Corral, Will Rogers and KJ Jefferson) after starting the season on the bench.

In retrospect, it was a mistake for UT coaches to not start Hooker from the beginning. And while I’ve heard many in the media suggest the camp competition between Milton and Hooker wasn’t close, Vol Network analyst and former NFL quarterback Pat Ryan told me two weeks in to practice he would start Hooker.

With Hooker back there’s no reason to think Tennessee’s offense won’t be among the SEC’s best – if not the nation’s best.

Cedric Tillman

In an age of instant gratification and the transfer portal and quitting when things don’t go your way, Cedric Tillman is a refreshing story.

The Las Vegas native had eight catches in three seasons at Tennessee. Despite having a nice spring, there was no reason to think he was ready to make a quantum leap.

After all, as receivers coach Kodi Burns said, he’s seen receivers make a huge jump from year one to year two, but from year three to year four.

But Tillman was incredible. He registered 64 catches for 1,081 yards and 12  touchdowns. He had a seven-game stretch in which he averaged 6.7 catches and 111.4 yards per game.

It’s possible that next season, he could shatter the UT single-season record for receptions (76, Marcus Nash) receiving yards (1,298 Robert Meachem) and receiving touchdowns (13, Nash).

Credit the system for Tillman’s breakout season.

Credit the coaches.

Credit the quarterback.

But most of all, credit Tillman.

Velus Jones Jr.

Jones transferred from USC before the 2020 season, mainly because Tee Martin was UT’s receivers coach and Martin had coached Jones at USC. Martin is from Mobile, Ala., Jones is from the suburb of Saraland.

Jones was known for his kickoff return abilities, but not for his receiving exploits.

Until this season. Jones caught 62 passes for 807 yards and seven touchdowns.

He also was the only player in the nation to have over 700 receiving yards, 500 kick return yards (628) and 200 punt return yards (272). He led the SEC in punt returns at 15.1 and was second in kick returns at 27.3.

Jones was the SEC co-special teams player of the year.

So how did Jones do in 2020? He had 22 catches for 280 yards and three touchdowns. Against Vanderbilt, he had seven catches for 125 yards and two scores – a sign of things to come.

He had 398 kick return yards and was second in the SEC with a 22.1 average.

But few saw his emergence in 2021.

While Tillman without a doubt is UT’s most improved player, Jones can claim second.

Theo Jackson

Jackson was to UT’s defense was Tillman was to the offense – a journeyman who seldom showed flashes that he could make a difference on an SEC defense.

Then came 2021. Then came secondary coach Willie Martinez.

Martinez saw a skill set in Jackson that Jackson probably didn’t. In 70 previous games covering four years, he had 112 tackles and two interceptions.

But when converted to full-time nickelback, Jackson excelled. He had 78 tackles, nine tackles for loss (he had three the previous four years) and a pick six. He broke up 11 passes after breaking up eight in four years.

Jackson become a dependable defensive back and arguably UT’s best secondary player.

Upset at Kentucky

Last year, Tennessee suffered its most embarrassing defeat of the season at the hands of the Wildcats at Neyland Stadium, 34-7. Two pick sixes stifled any energy the Vols had entering the game.  

So when the Vols traveled to Lexington as an underdog, UT had revenge on its mind.

Two touchdowns in four plays staked the Vols to a 14-7 lead. And Tennessee held on for a 45-42 victory over the No. 17 Wildcats despite having the ball for only 13:52.

Has a team ever won a game with less than 14 minutes time of possession?

Maybe, but I can’t think of one.

UT’s offense generated 461 yards. The defense surrendered 612 yards but made a crucial stop late in the game after allowing a fourth-and-24 conversion in the final minutes.

It was a testament to the team’s character and cohesiveness.

And it helped the Vols break even in SEC play (4-4).

UT has lost to Kentucky just three times since 1984.

HONORABLE MENTION: The home atmosphere for the Ole Miss game in which fans checkerboarded the stands. … Scoring 28 first-quarter points in routs over Missouri and South Carolina. … Averaging 39.3 points after averaging 21.3 the year before. … Tennessee set a school record for points scored in a season (511).

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