Tennessee’s defense bounced back in dominant fashion Saturday, smothering New Mexico State and showcasing the strength of its young playmakers in a 42-9 victory at Neyland Stadium.
Led by a resurgent performance from junior defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs, the Volunteers applied steady pressure throughout the afternoon, holding the Aggies to 27 rushing yards and forcing two turnovers.
Hobbs, who returned from injury this season, looked every bit his old self.
“It is what it is, it’s life. It has ups and downs,” Hobbs said. “I definitely feel like I’m back right where I was.”
As far as what fueled him against NWS, it’s about erasing the bad taste.
“The last game didn’t go our way, so just getting that bad taste out of my mouth, just going out there and playing hard for my guys, the seniors, Coach (Garner).”
Freshman linebacker Jadon Perlotte continued to flash his physicality and instincts.
He made his presence felt early with several key tackles and quarterback pressures.
Head coach Josh Heupel praised the freshman’s natural aggression and energy.
“See ball, hit ball. Go get it,” Heupel said.
“He’s fast, instinctive, violent, physical. Great explosiveness, does a good job on his pressures. Obviously, the 15-yarder on third-and-20, you can’t have that, but you can see a young player who continues to grow.”
In the secondary, a pair of big plays helped seal the win.
Freshman defensive back Ty Redmond recorded his first career interception in the first half, jumping a slant route after recognizing the look from film study.
“We honed in on our details all week,” Redmond said. “We were alert for the slant. I just felt the break and made a play on the ball to give our offense a chance to score.”
Later, redshirt senior William Wright provided the exclamation point with a pick-six that sent the home crowd into a frenzy.
“Just an awesome moment,” Wright said. “Been waiting for this for a while. Trusting my coaches, trusting the Lord, trusting myself, and taking advantage of every opportunity I get out there.”
The Vols’ defense registered three sacks, one quarterback hurry, and seven tackles for loss.
The performance marked a significant response after a lack luster season and underscored the growth of a defense blending veteran leadership with emerging young talent.
Tennessee 7-3 returns to action next week against Florida, looking to carry its defensive momentum into the final stretch of the season.
