Tennessee-Ball State: Vols double number of wide receivers with receptions from 2021 opener

Tennessee-Ball State: Vols double number of wide receivers with receptions from 2021 season-opener

Tennessee (1-0) kicked off its 2022 season Thursday against Ball State at Neyland Stadium.

The Vols defeated Ball State (0-1), 59-10.

Following the contest, second-year head coach Josh Heupel discussed wanting more wide receivers in rotation and their performance.

“The guys have proven that they earned the right to have more opportunities than they did a year ago,” Heupel said. “Last year on week one, we were still finding out a lot about our football team. We are this year too, but there is a lot known. A year into it, there are more guys that understand offensively what we are doing and the why behind it. They are understanding how to execute and operate efficiently. There is a lot that goes into the tempo that we run with.

“We have young guys that came in mid-year that have proven and earned the right. We are a deeper football team than we were a year ago. There are going to be a lot of things we need to correct, going back and watching the football game.”

2022 Vols’ football: Discussing Tennessee doubling its receiving stats from 2021

Four wide receivers (Jalin Hyatt, Cedric Tillman, JaVonta Payton, Grant Frerking) recorded receptions for Tennessee against Bowling Green in Heupel’s first game as head coach last season.

Eight wide receivers recorded receptions for the Vols against Ball State in year No. 2 of Heupel’s offense.

Below are Tennessee’s wide receivers and the number of receptions recorded against Ball State.

Josh Heupel reviews Hendon Hooker’s performance against Ball State

Josh Heupel reviews Hendon Hooker’s performance against Ball State.

Tennessee (1-0) kicked off its 2022 season Thursday against Ball State at Neyland Stadium.

The Vols defeated Ball State (0-1), 59-10.

Redshirt senior quarterback Hendon Hooker completed 18-of-25 passing attempts for 221 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. He recorded 12 rushing yards and two touchdowns on five attempts.

Following the season-opening contest, second-year head coach Josh Heupel addressed Hooker’s performance.

“I thought he was very efficient, in command and control,” Heupel said. “Our tempo, run game, decisions, checks, pass game, same thing. Structurally some things we game planned for and some things we hadn’t. The adjustments on the sideline he handled in a really good way.

“I thought he was in great command of the football game. I need to go back and watch it. He had the missed throw, but other than that, he was extremely accurate all night long.”

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Tennessee-Ball State game balls

A look at Tennessee-Ball State game balls.

Tennessee kicked off its 2022 season Thursday at Neyland Stadium under second-year head coach Josh Heupel.

The Vols defeated Ball State, 59-10, in front of 92,236 in attendance.

Tennessee’s 2022 regular-season schedule also features home games against Akron, Florida, Alabama, UT Martin, Kentucky and Missouri.

The Vols have road contests at Pittsburgh in the second edition of the Johnny Majors Classic, LSU, Georgia, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.

Tennessee football: Vols’ season-opening game results since 2000

Tennessee football: Vols’ all-time results on Thursday

Following Tennessee’s season-opening win against Ball State, Vols Wire provides game balls for offense, defense and special teams.

NEXT: Tennessee’s offensive game ball

PHOTOS: Tennessee defeats Ball State

PHOTOS: Tennessee defeats Ball State

Tennessee kicked off its 2022 season Thursday at Neyland Stadium under second-year head coach Josh Heupel.

The Vols defeated Ball State, 59-10, in front of 92,236 in attendance.

Tennessee’s 2022 regular-season schedule also features home games against Akron, Florida, Alabama, UT Martin, Kentucky and Missouri.

The Vols have road contests at Pittsburgh in the second edition of the Johnny Majors Classic, LSU, Georgia, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.

Tennessee football: Vols’ season-opening game results since 2000

Tennessee football: Vols’ all-time results on Thursday

Following Tennessee’s season-opening win against Ball State, Vols Wire looks at photos between UT and the Cardinals. Photos of Tennessee’s season-opening win are below.

Tennessee defeats Ball State, 59-10

Tennessee defeats Ball State, 59-10.

Tennessee opened its 2022 season Thursday at Neyland Stadium.

The Vols (1-0) defeated Ball State, 59-10, in the first meeting between the two schools.

Redshirt senior quarterback Hendon Hooker recorded two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns.

Hooker recorded a 23-yard touchdown pass to Jalin Hyatt with 14 minutes, 37 seconds remaining in the first quarter following an interception by Tamarion McDonald.

Tennessee extended its advantage to 10-0 when Chase McGrath kicked a 34-yard field goal.

Tennessee led 38-0 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Jaylen Wright scored on a 3-yard run.

Joe Milton III relieved Hooker later in the third quarter and recorded a touchdown pass to Jimmy Holiday.

Dylan Sampson also scored for the Vols.

Ball State quarterback John Paddock threw a touchdown pass and kicker Ben VonGunten added a field goal.

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Tennessee-Ball State postgame social media buzz

A look at Tennessee-Ball State football postgame social media buzz.

Tennessee kicked off its 2022 season Thursday at Neyland Stadium under second-year head coach Josh Heupel.

The Vols defeated Ball State, 59-10, in front of 92,236 in attendance.

Tennessee’s 2022 regular season schedule also features home games against Akron, Florida, Alabama, UT Martin, Kentucky and Missouri.

The Vols have road contests at Pittsburgh in the second edition of the Johnny Majors Classic, LSU, Georgia, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.

Tennessee football: Vols’ season-opening game results since 2000

Tennessee football: Vols’ all-time results on Thursday

Following Tennessee’s season-opening win against Ball State, Vols Wire looks at postgame social media buzz. Postgame social media buzz is listed below.

Hendon Hooker is oldest starting quarterback in Tennessee history

Hendon Hooker is the oldest starting quarterback in Tennessee history.

Tennessee kicked off its 2022 season Thursday against Ball State at Neyland Stadium.

Redshirt senior Hendon Hooker started at quarterback for the Vols.

The 6-foot-4, 218-pound Hooker is the oldest starting quarterback in Tennessee history (24 years, seven months and 19 days old).

Per the University of Tennessee, prior to Hooker, the oldest starting quarterback in Tennessee history had been Daryl Dickey. Dickey’s last start took place Jan. 1, 1986 in the Sugar Bowl. He was 24 years, six months and 21 days old as Tennessee’s quarterback against the Hurricanes.

Hendon Hooker by the numbers in 2021

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Follow us at @VolsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of University of Tennessee athletics.

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Tennessee-Ball State: Vols’ halftime stats leaders

Tennessee-Ball State: A look at the Vols’ halftime stats leaders

Tennessee kicked off its 2022 season Thursday at Neyland Stadium under second-year head coach Josh Heupel.

The Vols lead Ball State at halftime, 38-0.

Tennessee’s 2022 regular season schedule also features home games against Akron, Florida, Alabama, UT Martin, Kentucky and Missouri.

The Vols have road contests at Pittsburgh in the second edition of the Johnny Majors Classic, LSU, Georgia, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.

Tennessee football: Vols’ season-opening game results since 2000

Tennessee football: Vols’ all-time results on Thursday

Vols Wire looks at Tennessee’s statistical leaders at halftime.

Tennessee’s halftime stats leaders for passing yards, rushing yards, receiving yards, tackles and interceptions are listed below.

Tennessee-Ball State pregame social media buzz

A look at Tennessee-Ball State football pregame social media buzz.

Tennessee will kick off its 2022 season against Ball State Thursday at Neyland Stadium.

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. EDT and SEC Network will televise the season-opening matchup. Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic are on the call.

Thursday’s contest is the first between the Vols and Cardinals.

Tennessee releases depth chart ahead of Ball State game

Tennessee football: Vols’ season-opening game results since 2000

Tennessee announces uniform combination for Ball State game

Ball State releases depth chart ahead of Tennessee game

Ahead of the Tennessee-Ball-State matchup, Vols Wire looks at pregame social media buzz. Pregame social media buzz is listed below.

Ball State announces ice storm uniform combination for Tennessee game

Ball State announces ice storm uniform combination for the Tennessee game.

Tennessee will kick off its 2022 season Thursday against Ball State at Neyland Stadium.

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. EDT and SEC Network will televise the season-opening matchup. Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic are on the call.

Tennessee releases depth chart ahead of Ball State game

Tennessee football: Vols’ season-opening game results since 2000

Ahead of the contest, Ball State announced its uniform combination. The Cardinals will wear its all white, white storm uniforms.

2022 Tennessee football schedule

  • Sept. 1 versus Ball State
  • Sept. 10 at Pittsburgh
  • Sept. 17 versus Akron
  • Sept. 24 versus Florida
  • Oct. 1 OPEN DATE
  • Oct. 8 at LSU
  • Oct. 15 versus Alabama
  • Oct. 22 versus UT Martin (homecoming)
  • Oct. 29 versus Kentucky
  • Nov. 5 at Georgia
  • Nov. 12 versus Missouri
  • Nov. 19 at South Carolina
  • Nov. 26 at Vanderbilt

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