#24 NC State’s opponent this evening is #14 Tennessee. Here’s a look at the Wolfpack’s opponent before kickoff.
The Volunteers are coming off of a 9-4 season in 2023, finishing the year ranked 17th in the AP Poll.
Tennessee is led by Head Coach Josh Heupel, who took over in 2021. In 2020, the Volunteers went 3-7. In 2021, he flipped things around, leading Tennessee to a 7-4 record. In 2022, Heupel brought the Volunteers back to national significance, leading the team to an 11-2 record, and a ranking of #6 in the Final AP Poll. Last year, Tennessee closed out their 2023 campaign with a 35-0 win over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl.
The Volunteers have won 11 straight non-conference games, and have gone 14-2 in non-conference games under Heupel.
Tennessee might have one of the most exciting young Quarterbacks in the nation in Redshirt Freshman Nico Iamaleava. Last season, Iamaleava started his first collegiate game in the Citrus Bowl against the Hawkeyes. He went 12 of 19 for 151 yards and a touchdown. Expectations were high for Iamaleava coming into 2024. He was the #1 overall player nationally in the 2023 recruiting class according to ON3. Last week, Iamaleava was sensational, completing 22 of his 28 passes for 314 yards and 3 touchdowns in Tennessee’s 69-3 win over Chattanooga. For perspective, those were Iamaleava’s numbers in 1 half of play.
The Volunteers were nothing short of explosive against Chattanooga last week. The 69 points were the 2nd most in the modern era (1937-present) at Tennessee, the 66-point margin of victory was the third most in the modern era, and the 718 yards of total offense was tied for the 2nd most in school history.
Junior Running Back Dylan Sampson will be starting his 3rd game tonight. In his first two starts (Week 1 and the Citrus Bowl last year), Sampson has rushed for over 100 yards in each game. In total, he has four 100+ yard rushing performances. Last week, Sampson rushed the ball 12 times for 124 yards and 3 touchdowns. Since taking over in 2021, Josh Heupel has led Tennessee to rush for 200+ yards 24 times, going 22-2 in those contests.
Tennessee returns two starting Wide Receivers from their 2023 squad. Junior Squirrel White was the leading receiver for the Volunteers last year, with 67 receptions for 803 yards and 2 touchdowns. Redshirt Bru McCoy also is a returning starter, but missed the final 8 games of the 2023 season due a dislocated ankle. He led Tennessee in receptions last week against Chattanooga, with 6 receptions for 89 yards. Senior Dont’e Thornton Jr. started in 3 of the 9 games he played in last year after transferring in from Oregon. He led Tennessee in receiving yards last week with 3 receptions for 105 yards and 2 touchdowns. Redshirt Sophomore Chris Brazzell II had 5 receptions for 59 yards against Chattanooga last week. He transferred in from Tulane this offseason.
Expect Tennessee to play fast on offense tonight. They average 2.94 offensive plays per minute since 2021, which ranks 1st in the FBS.
Four of Tennessee’s five starting Offensive Linemen from 2023 return, with Preseason All-American Center Cooper Mays being the standout.
On the Defensive side of the ball, the Volunteers haven’t allowed a touchdown in 8 consecutive quarters. They have gone 13 straight quarters without allowing a touchdown to non-SEC opponents. The Volunteers have finished in the Top-15 nationally in tackles for loss the past three seasons. 18 times since Heupel took over as head coach, the Volunteers have racked up 3+ sacks in a game.
In 2023, Tennessee ranked in the Top-25 in 6 different defensive statistical categories: scoring defense (22nd – 20.3), yards per play allowed (19th – 4.97), defensive touchdowns (first – 5), rushing defense (19th – 113.7), tackles for loss (sixth – 101) and sacks (ninth – 41).
Junior Defensive End James Pearce Jr. is a Preseason 1st Team All-American. Last year, Pearce Jr. tied for the lead in the SEC in Sacks with 10, and ranked 2nd in tackles for loss with 14.5.
Tennessee has been stingy in Run Defense, giving up 101.5 yards on the ground per game since 2022, which ranks 19th in the FBS. They held 7 of their 13 opponents last year to less than 100 rushing yards.
