The Tennessee Volunteers responded to a 25-point thrashing from the South Carolina Gamecocks to post a resounding 56-0 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores (5-7) on a rainy night in Nashville. Despite the Commodores holding nearly a 28-minute advantage in time of possession, the Volunteers scored at will. They rushed for 362 yards on just 31 carries and posted three touchdown runs of 50-or-more yards. In addition, they returned a punt for a score in the win.
Tennessee (10-2) running backs Jaylen Wright (5 carries, 160 yards, 2 TDs) and Dylan Sampson (12 carries, 131 yards, TD) cleared the 100-yard barrier while junior Jabari Small added 79 yards and two more scores.
![Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea]( "HC Clark Lea talking to the refs during the official during a play stoppage")
Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea led the Commodores to a five-win season in 2022. It represented the team's highest victory total since 2018.
![Tennessee's Jabari Small making a LB miss in space]( "Vanderbilt LB Anfernee Orji about to leave feet versus Tennessee's Jabari Small in the hole")
Tennessee RB Jabari Small (No. 2 pictured) makes Vanderbilt LB Anfernee Orji miss in the hole on a long touchdown run in the third quarter.
![Jabari Small touchdown run vs. Vanderbilt]( "Tennessee's Jabari Small scoring a TD to the chagrin of the Vanderbilt faithful")
Tennessee RB Jabari Small runs for the second of his two touchdowns on the day as the Tennessee fans celebrate in the end zone. Small rushed for 83 yards (7.2 YPC) on the afternoon.
![Vanderbilt punter Matt Hayball]( "Vanderbilt P Matt Hayball as the ball leaves his foot")
Vanderbilt punter Matt Hayball, an FAU transfer, finished the season averaging over 45 yards per punt. The team, however, allowed nearly 15 yards per punt return for the season, including 116 yards and one touchdown return in this contest.
![Vanderbilt WR Will Sheppard]( "Vanderbilt WR Will Sheppard with the run after the catch reception in the rain")
Vanderbilt WR Will Sheppard attempts to get away from Tennessee defensive back Wesley Walker, who had eight tackles and 1.5 TFLs in this game. Sheppard finished the year with 60 receptions for 776 yards (12.9 YPR) and 9 TDs.
![Tennessee WR Squirrel White]( "Tennessee wide receiver Squirrel White in space")
Tennessee WR Squirrel White (No. 10 pictured) attempts to elude Vanderbilt DB Jaylen Mahoney in space. White finished 2022 with 30 catches for 481 yards (16 YPR) and 2 TDs.
![Vanderbilt RB Ray Davis one-on-one in the open field]( "Ray Davis is matched up one-on-one with Tennessee's Jaylen McCollough")
Tennessee DB Jaylen McCollough (58 tackles, 2 TFLs, 4 PBUs) is matched up one-on-one with Vanderbilt RB Ray Davis (1.042 yards, 4.5 YPC, 5 TDs) during Saturday's game.
![Ray Davis stiff-arms the defender]( "Vanderbilt's Ray Davis stiff-arms Tennessee LB Solon Page III Page III to the ground copy")
Davis, who finished with 60 yards rushing on 21 carries, attempts to get by multiple Tennessee defenders.
![Tennessee QB Joe Milton III]( "Tennessee QB Joe Milton III stands deep in the pocket")
Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III finished the 2022 season with 10 touchdown passes (65%) and zero interceptions.
![Tennessee freshman RB Dylan Sampson gets lifted up after a TD run]( "Dylan Sampson getting held up after a TD in the fourth quarter")
Tennessee freshman running back Dylan Sampson gets lifted into the air after an 80-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of the team's 56-0 victory.
