Tennessee is trending upward, appearing to have successfully navigated the meat of the Kiffin Chimera's learning curve. Despite a pretty big hole they dug for themselves early on, several Volunteers are slowly climbing the national rankings in several major statistical categories. Have a look:
Offense
- Jonathan Crompton, tied for 11th in "points responsible for" (1st in the SEC, and behind the likes of Houston's Case Keenum, Boise State's Kellen Moore, BYU's Max Hall, and several players from lower-tier teams)
- Montario Hardesty, 25th in rushing yards per game (4th in the SEC)
- Crompton 35th in passing efficiency (over Joe Cox, Matt Barkley, Greg McElroy, Terrelle Pryor, Stephen Garcia, and Jevan Snead, among others)
- Crompton, 40th in total passing yards (above Joe Cox, Jevan Snead, Matt Barkley, Greg McElroy, Terrelle Pryor, and Tim Tebow, among others)
- Jonathan Crompton: 44th in passing (above Ryan Mallett, Joe Cox, Matt Barkley, Greg McElroy, Jevan Snead, Jordan Jefferson, Chris Todd, Tim Tebow, and Terrelle Pryor, among other notables)
- Crompton, 44th in passing yards per game (above Joe Cox, Jevan Snead, Chris Todd, Greg McElroy, Jordan Jefferson, Tim Tebow, and Terrelle Pryor, among others)
- Montario Hardesty, 56th in all-purpose running
Note that we have no receivers ranked nationally in receptions per game, receiving yards per game, or total receiving yards, which must mean that Crompton is spreading the ball around and the driving force in the passing game.
Defense
- Rico McCoy, tied for 7th in forced fumbles
- Eric Berry, 9th in fumbles recovered
- Dennis Rogan, 25th in fumbles recovered (duplicate link)
- Chris Walker, 41st in sacks
- McCoy, 52nd in solo tackles
- McCoy, 58th in total tackles
- Berry, 63rd in passes defended
- Walker, 98th in interceptions
Special Teams
- Daniel Lincoln, 49th in field goals
- David Oku, 50th in kickoff returns
- Chad Cunningham, 52nd in punting
- Nu'Keese Richardson, 85th in kickoff returns (duplicate link)