Big Orange Report September 25, 2025

 

Vols Take Care of  Business

Tennessee suffered no hangover after the heartbreaking loss to Georgia as the Volunteers rolled to a 56-24 verdict over visiting and out manned Alabama-Birmingham. The Big Orange raced out to a 42-7 advantage at intermission and basically played reserves for most of the second half. Starting quarterback Joey Aguilar tossed three touchdown passes to give him 12 touchdown throws for the year thus far.

One very bright spot in this game was sophomore Boo Carter's performance during his most extensive appearance of the young season. Carter, who was a Freshman All American last fall, led UT with nine stops that included three tackles for loss, one sack and two forced fumbles. Carter would certainly be a welcome asset to a defense that has struggled during the early portion of the campaign.

Two defensive starters were held out of this game but could return this weekend. Defensive end Tyre West and inside tackle Jaxson Moi would certainly be welcome additions to the defensive trenches for Tennessee. Of course, the Vols remain without their original pair of starters at cornerback, Jermod McCoy and Ricky Gibson.

Time to Hit the Road

The Big Orange will travel to Starkville, Miss., this weekend to do battle with, perhaps, the most surprising team in the league so far this season. Second year head coach, Jeff Lebby, has the Bulldog offense purring and his team has already won twice as many football games as they did during his first season on the job in 2024. MSU finished an anemic 2-10 last fall and was winless in the SEC, going 0-8 just a year ago.  

Lebby, who has been considered one of the premiere offensive co-ordinators in college football for almost a decade, rolled his sleeves up and when to work. He has added some key transfers to the roster and his staff has adapted to his theories and formulas as they work to make the Bulldogs the SEC's Cinderella story this autumn.

Lebby ran the Oklahoma offense in 2023 and the Sooners finished No. 4 in the nation with 502 total yards of offense per game. In the SEC at Ole Miss, his offenses led the league both years before he left for Oklahoma. The Rebels were No. 3 nationally in 2020 with 556 yards of total offense per game. He also had success working for Josh Heupel at Central Florida as that combination had the No. 2 offense in college ball in his second season on the staff.

Key Matchups

Vol pass rush vs. Blake Shapen-- A veteran signal caller, Shapen transferred to Starkville after a successful career with the Baylor Bears. This season he has completed 67 of 100 throws for 884 yards and seven touchdowns while only being intercepted twice. The Vol pass defense has been woeful through four games and ranks about four spots from the bottom in yards allowed through the air. Given time in the pocket, Shapen will find Brenen Thompson (17 catches, 291 yards, 3 touchdowns), Anthony Evans III, a transfer from Georgia (21 receptions, 290 yards, 2 touchdowns and tight end Seydow Traovre (6 catches, 80 yards, 2 touchdowns).

The trio of Josh Josephs, Caleb Herring and Jordan Ross need to come up big for the Volunteers and make Shapen very uncomfortable and sack him multiple times. Adding a blitzing linebacker or defensive back off the edge might also put added pressure on Shapen.

Tennessee ground game vs. Bulldogs' linebackers-- The strength of the MSU defense is on the second level. Derion Gullette, Nic Mitchell and safety Isaaac Smith are very active and athletic, run to the football and fill the gaps quickly at the line of scrimmage. Smith leads the team in tackles with 24 stops. Coach Heupel will want to grind out yards on the ground, control the clock and keep the football away from Shapen in this encounter. The Vols' three-back rotation means that a fresh ball carrier can be on the field on every offensive possession.

Watch for this

Both quarterbacks have impressive numbers thus far this season so the one that is on target and the most accurate will give his team that best chance to prevail. Keep an eye on the middle of the field. This is where the Tennessee pass defense has been very porous so far but it is also where Joey Aguilar can find Vol tight end Miles Kitselman. Crossing patterns by the wide receivers and delayed throws to a back are also items of interest to watch for between the hash marks.  

Secret Weapon

Boo Carter has gotten very close to taking a punt return to the house in the early going. Is this the game he can take one all the way to paydirt?

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