Tennessee football suffered its first loss of the 2025 season Saturday afternoon, dropping a 44-41 overtime thriller against rival Georgia. The Vols led by eight late and then had a game-winning field goal attempt sail wide right before losing in the first overtime.
If you need a reminder on how Pro Football Focus works, read the opening of the Syracuse grades.
Let’s see how the Vols graded out.
Elite grade = 90-100, All-Conference = 85-89, Starter = 70-84, Backup = 60-69, Replaceable = 60 >
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Offensive Grades (minimum 14 plays — 20% of offensive plays)
WR Braylon Staley — 75.8 (69 plays)
RB Star Thomas — 74.8 (30 plays)
WR Chris Brazzell — 74.1 (74 plays)
QB Joey Aguilar — 68.8 (74 plays)
RT Jesse Perry — 68.7 (74 plays)
RG Wendell Moe — 66.7 (74 plays)
LT Lance Heard — 65.3 (74 plays)
TE Miles Kitselman — 62.6 (69 plays)
WR Mike Matthews — 62.2 (62 plays)
C Sam Pendleton — 61.9 (74 plays)
RB DeSean Bishop — 56.6 (33 plays)
LG Sham Umarov — 52.4 (74 plays)
TE Ethan Davis — 46.6 (15 plays)
Let’s start on the offensive line where the grades were solid but not great. Thought it was a notable divide between the pass block and run blocks grade for some of the starters. Jesse Perry posted an 85.6 pass block and 59.3 run block grade. Wendell Moe (87 pass block, 62.1 run block) and Lance Heard (72.7 pass block, 60.1 run block) was similar. Center Sam Pendleton was nearly opposite with a pungent 26.9 pass block grade and a 73.4 run block grade.
But all in all, that was a strong showing from Tennessee’s offensive line. They played well against a good front. Perry also showed that he can be a long term solution at offensive tackle if needed.
The same can be said for Tennessee’s receivers who stepped up in a way they haven’t in the past against Georgia. Both Brazzell and Staley totaled strong grades in this game as did Joey Aguilar.
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Defensive Grades (minimum 17 plays — 20% of defensive plays)
LEO Josh Josephs — 82.2 (46 plays)
LEO Jordan Ross — 76.5 (30 plays)
DE Tyre West — 75.9 (55 plays)
DT Dominic Bailey — 67.5 (65 plays)
LB Jeremiah Telander — 67.4 (54 plays)
DT Bryson Eason — 65.3 (66 plays)
S Kaleb Beasley — 64.3 (20 plays)
LB Edwin Spillman — 63.4 (53 plays)
CB Colton Hood — 63.0 (94 plays)
DT Nathan Robinson — 61.9 (30 plays)
LEO Caleb Herring — 61.4 (27 plays)
DE Tyree Weathersby — 60.9 (24 plays)
STAR Jalen McMurray — 60.5 (55 plays)
STAR Boo Carter — 60.0 (28 plays)
LB Arion Carter — 57.9 (86 plays)
S Andre Turrentine — 54.9 (94 plays)
DT Ethan Utley — 54.0 (17 plays)
CB Ty Redmond — 53.8 (94 plays)
S Edrees Farooq — 45.7 (78 plays)
On the defensive line, credit to Bryson Eason and Dominic Bailey who were warriors in this one— playing over 60 snaps at defensive tackle and performing pretty well. Especially Bailey, who is a strongside defensive end and was playing defensive tackle.
Tennessee’s first team defensive line graded out well. Josh Josephs has taken the next step, Tyre West had a nice game as did Jordan Ross and Caleb Herring.
Watching live, I thought Edwin Spillman was far batter than Jeremiah Telander but PFF said otherwise. Spillman was much better in the run game, earning a 68.1 run defense and 80.3 tackling grade. Telander had a 67.0 run defense grade and a 58.1 tackling grade.
The grades were as rough as expected for Tennessee’s starting safeties and Ty Redmond. They accounted for three of the Vols’ four lowest grades in this one. The final numbers for Redmond were six receptions allowed for 113 yards on seven targets.
