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Tennessee football had a good season, but its best came in the most physical parts of the game.
The Vols (9-4) were among the nation’s best at running the football. That’s why Knox News chose 1,000-yard rusher Jaylen Wright as the team’s offensive MVP.
And the Vols touted one of the nation’s best pass-rushing units. That’s why Knox News picked edge rusher James Pearce as the team’s defensive MVP. Also, his dominant performance in the Citrus Bowl against Iowa solidified his case.
They represented the most effective elements of Tennessee in the 2023 season. Here’s what they did to earn that status.
Jaylen Wright was top rusher on potent ground attack
On Nov. 18, Wright took a handoff from quarterback Joe Milton, cut right and sprinted untouched past Georgia defenders for a 75-yard touchdown.
It was on the first play of the game but stood as UT’s lone TD in a 38-10 loss to the No. 1 Bulldogs. Even when the Vols struggled, Wright excelled.
Wright rushed for 1,013 yards and four TDs. He accomplished the 19th 1,000-yard rushing season in program history, and he did it in only 137 carries while sharing carries with Jabari Small and Dylan Sampson.
Wright averaged 7.4 yards per carry, which led all FBS running backs with at least 100 carries. And he ran for 100 yards in six of 12 games before opting out of the Citrus Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft.
Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (0) runs for a touchdown in the opening minutes of the game during a football game between Tennessee and Georgia at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023.
He was voted AP All-SEC second team.
In recent seasons, Tennessee’s offense has been led by quarterbacks like Joshua Dobbs and Hendon Hooker and wide receivers like Cedric Tillman and Jalin Hyatt.
But the 2023 Vols ranked No. 2 in rushing offense in the SEC….
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-jaylen-wright-james-pearce-100751999.html
Author : Knox News | The Knoxville News-Sentinel
Publish date : 2024-01-03 10:07:51
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