Tennessee 2014 superlatives
The Tennessee Volunteers finished the 2014 regular season with a 6-6 (3-5 SEC) record, earning bowl eligibility for the first time since 2010. The Vols ended their season by going 3-1 in their final four games and look to capture their first bowl victory since 2008. Here’s a look at the superlatives for the 2014 season.
Most Improved: Joshua Dobbs. Dobbs has made great strides of improvement from his freshman campaign. Facing a similar circumstance, the sophomore started in the Vols final four games after being on track to redshirt in 2014. But rather than struggling against superior competition, Dobbs looked like one of the SEC’s top quarterbacks during his short stretch of games played.
Best Comeback: Curt Maggitt. The redshirt junior experienced season-ending injuries in his first two seasons, which forced him to sit out all of 2013. But after accepting a new role as a DE/LB hybrid, Maggitt led the Vols with 11 sacks and started in all 12 games.
Most Likely To Succeed (in 2015): Jalen Hurd. Despite running behind the worst offensive line in the SEC, Hurd had one of the most productive freshman rushing seasons in Tennessee history. His team-best 777 yards was the most by a Vols freshman since Arian Foster’s 879 in 2005. Hurd progressed in each game with gained experience, surpassing his previous season-best totals four times.
Offensive MVP: Joshua Dobbs. Dobbs was the most crucial part of the Vols’ offensive success in 2014. Without his production, there’s little chance that the Vols would have won six games. Dobbs became the first quarterback in school history to throw for more than 300 yards and rush for 100 in the same game against South Carolina, the team’s biggest win of the season. By implementing the sophomore into the lineup, the Vols offense saw immediate improvement after looking pedestrian for several weeks.
Defensive MVP: Derek Barnett. The former four-star prospect became the first true freshman in school history to start at defensive end in a season opener. Barnett exceeded staggering expectations by setting school freshman records for sacks (10) and tackles for loss (20.5), ranking in the top-5 in the SEC for both categories. Like Hurd, the former Brentwood Academy standout improved with gained experience, recording sacks in four of his final six games. Barnett should continue his progression as a sophomore as the Vols add two of the nation’s best defensive tackles in Kahlil McKenzie and Shy Tuttle.