Published September 1, 2012 - 9:40am
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What’s the best game plan for attacking the supposed #1 overall corner in the country and a secondary that led the country in interceptions last year? You go right at them.
That’s what Tennessee’s passing attack did, and it succeeded all night.
A big part of that was obviously Tyler Bray, but newcomer Cordarrelle Patterson made his presence known in the SEC last night. This guy has All-SEC written all over him.
With hair hanging out of the back of his helmet that looked more like a club than anything, Patterson made the loss of Da’Rick Rogers an afterthought. Patterson looks bigger than Rogers at 6-3, 205, and he looks to have the athleticism of Justin Hunter.
So, this is what had the Tennessee coaches excited about 2012 in fall camp. Patterson has been banged up for most of the camp with a shoulder injury, but he looked 100 percent last night.
Patterson got things started early in the first quarter when he torched the supposed best corner in the country in David Amerson for a 41-yard TD catch.
He then followed up and showed his versatility on an end-around running play for a 67-yard TD.
Patterson ended the night with six catches for 93 yards and a TD, as well has two carries for 72 yards and one TD.
SEC speed was on full display at the Georgia Dome, as Patterson and Bray led the Vols in an NC State romp 35-21.
