Jeremiah Telander couldn’t believe Alberto Mendoza threw the football.
Georgia Tech was threatening late in the first half against Tennessee when Mendoza tried to squeeze a pass over the middle.
Telander was waiting.
The senior linebacker intercepted Mendoza at Tennessee’s 17-yard line, ending a nine-play Georgia Tech drive with 35 seconds remaining in the half. It was the second interception of Telander’s career.
“I couldn’t believe he threw it,” Telander said after the game.
It wouldn’t be the last time Tennessee needed him to end a Georgia Tech threat.
Telander delivered two critical plays as the No. 18 Vols beat the Yellow Jackets 45-24 on Saturday night. Tennessee improved to 2-0 despite allowing Georgia Tech to consistently move the football.
The interception came with Tennessee leading 24-10.
Georgia Tech had already moved 52 yards and reached Tennessee territory before Telander stopped the drive.
The play brought Tennessee’s sideline to life.
“They were driving the football down the field and we needed a big stop,” defensive back De’jaun Lane said. “When we needed it, Jeremiah, he produced it for us.”
Telander’s impact came from a slightly different role, too.
Tennessee has used the veteran linebacker on the edge more frequently under defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. Telander spent much of his career playing middle linebacker before showing more versatility this season.
He recorded five tackles, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry in Tennessee’s opener against Furman.
Against Georgia Tech, one of his biggest plays came as a pass rusher.
The Yellow Jackets reached Tennessee’s 5-yard line on a drive that carried into the fourth quarter.
On second-and-goal, Telander got to Mendoza for a seven-yard sack.
It immediately changed the situation.
Amare Campbell helped drop a completion for another loss on the following play. Georgia Tech then failed to convert on fourth-and-goal, allowing Tennessee to escape without surrendering a point.
Telander’s interception and sack came at different points in the game.
Both accomplished the same thing.
Georgia Tech was moving. Tennessee needed a stop.
And one of the Vols’ most experienced defenders made the play.
“He’s tough, relentless,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said. “He’s smart. He’s a high-level communicator.”
For a Tennessee defense that wasn’t always able to get off the field quickly Saturday, Telander helped make sure two of Georgia Tech’s most promising possessions ended without points.
