While all attention was on Faizon Brandon’s debut as Tennessee’s starting quarterback, and rightfully so, the Vols played a complete game on both sides of the ball. The defense was an overmatch for the Furman Paladins. Tennessee gave up 221 yards, with 119 of those yards coming in the fourth quarter.
The Vols defense overall had a good day, but one player in particular was a monster from the start. Tennessee junior defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam was more than a handful for Furman’s front. He led the Vols with six total tackles, five for loss and three sacks. Gilliam became the third Southeastern Conference player since 2005 to record three sacks and five tackles for loss in a game. He was also the second Vol since 2005 with five TFL’s in a game.
“Yeah, one of the strong leaders inside the room,” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said postgame. “It was awesome to see the team’s reaction; we talked about his performance, three sacks today. A model of consistency in how he works, prepares, competes. Same dude every day, and no surprise that he played really well today.”
Two of Gilliam’s three sacks came on back-to-back plays in the first quarter. After Jake Garcia had extended the drive on a 17-yard run, the Vols’ front turned up the pressure. First, Jeremiah Telander and Mariyon Dye pressured Garcia to force an incompletion. Next is when Gilliam cleaned up on second and third downs.
After the game, Gilliam was asked how those sacks shaped his confidence and outlook on his performance.
“Well, I wouldn’t really say it changes my confidence, because I always believe I’m going to have a great game,” Gilliam said postgame. “I would just say it brings more energy to the game, and that energy brings more confidence to my teammates.”
The energy was there across the defense. Linebacker Amare Campbell also played a huge role. He tied Gilliam with six tackles on the day. Edwin Spillman, Tyree Weathersby and Dye added a sack each. The defensive front penetrated and finished the day with 12 tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries and six total sacks.
“I would say that was a challenge for us as a defensive line, trying to see who was going to step up,” Gilliam said. “As the season goes on, you’re going to keep seeing more guys step up; it’s not just going to be me. You see younger guys step up and older guys come back to life.”
Next week the Vols will head to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a loss to Colorado. The Yellow Jackets were sacked three times and dumped for loss eight times in that game. If Tennessee brings that energy across the board, you have to feel good about things going into Bobby Dodd Stadium. Pressure up front allows the linebackers to flow, and Arion Carter will be back in the mix.
“Our linebacker room is extremely deep,” Campbell said. “We have guys that are willing to come in and work every single day from top to bottom. Doesn’t matter who it is. The work ethic of the room and how we work. We’re always working, always grinding. We’re always going to be ready.”
