Vols' five best plays of the Butch Jones Era

Butch Jones has been Tennessee’s football coach for only four years, but that’s long enough for a list of the best and worst plays of the Jones Era.

Here are my five best plays.

Keep in mind they’re based on impact rather than aesthetics.

Jennings' catch

There’s no debating the best play. It came last season at Sanford Stadium when a Tennessee victory seemed hopelessly out of reach against Georgia.

The Vols were 43 yards away from the Georgia end zone with four seconds to play when quarterback Joshua Dobbs set up in the pocket and launched the prettiest pass of his career. On the far end, wide receiver Jauan Jennings rose above a thicket of Bulldogs and made the game-winning catch.

I would be remiss if I didn’t credit Georgia for its contributions. It rushed only three men, allowing Dobbs to make the throw unimpeded by a pass rush.

The 34-31 victory boosted the Vols to 5-0 and gave them back-to-back victories over Georgia and Florida.

Hurd's recovery

The Vols were teetering on the brink of what would have been a colossal upset loss when running back Jalen Hurd came to the rescue in overtime against Appalachian State.

Dobbs lost the ball as he was hit at the goal line, but Hurd recovered in the end zone. Otherwise, Appalachian State would have needed only a field goal to win the game on its first overtime possession.

Jennings' catch-and-run

After spotting Florida a 21-3 first-half lead, the Vols rallied for a 38-28 victory last season at Neyland Stadium. Their second-half charge included a number of big plays, like tight end Ethan Wolf’s fingertip grab of a Dobbs pass for their first touchdown.

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But the play Tennessee fans likely will remember the most came later. Early in the fourth quarter, Florida cornerback Teez Tabor fell down, and Jennings hauled in a Dobbs pass and raced down the sideline for a 67-yard touchdown.

The comeback

In 2015, Georgia seemed to be off and running toward a lopsided victory when Reggie Davis returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown with 3:27 to play in the first half. That put the Bulldogs on top 24-3.

Two minutes later, on a fourth-and-8, Josh Smith caught a 39-yard touchdown pass from Dobbs. UT then recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and scored again en route to a 38-31 victory.

The drive

Not much good happened for the Vols in 2013, Jones’ first season. The 5-7 season included dreadful beatings at the hands of Oregon, Alabama and Missouri.

But it also included a 23-21 upset of No. 11 South Carolina. Quarterback Justin Worley and wide receiver Marquez North combined for the most memorable play.

With just over two minutes to play, on a third-down-and-10, North beat a South Carolina defender for a sideline catch and a 39-yard gain. That led to a 19-yard, game-winning field goal by Michael Palardy on the last play.  

Reach John Adams at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com and on Twitter @johnadamskns.

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