JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Kenny Bynum grew up going to Jacksonville Jaguars games and always dreamed of playing at the stadium now known as EverBank Field.
He got that chance Friday as Tennessee’s starting middle linebacker.
The former standout at nearby Raines High School learned during practice Monday that he would make his first collegiate start in the TaxSlayer Bowl, and he filled his role well in the 45-28 win against Iowa.
“It was a perfect opportunity that I couldn’t let not happen,” Bynum said after finishing with two tackles and a pass breakup in front of what he estimated to be “at least” 20 family members and friends.
After freshman Jakob Johnson started the final two regular-season games in the wake of A.J. Johnson’s suspension, Bynum played more down the stretch of the Vanderbilt game and won the job during December bowl prep.
“I think Kenny did a great job,” linebacker/defensive end Curt Maggitt said. “I think there’s a set standard in the linebacker room with Coach (Butch) Jones and Coach Thig (linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen) and Coach (defensive coordinator John) Jancek. They’re the standard, and it’s very high.
“With Jakob and Kenny, they feed off each other, they help each and there’s competition there, but they want what’s best for the team, so you’re not going to see one of them get down if one of them’s in. They’re going to help each other. Kenny did a great job making the calls, setting the fronts, making checks, being real vocal and making plays.”
Tennessee allowed 421 yards to the Hawkeyes, but 152 of those came in a fourth quarter that began with the Vols ahead by 35 points. In aiding the offense’s fast start, Tennessee got a key fourth-and-short stop in the first quarter and forced two three-and-outs as the offense scored on its first four drives for a 28-0 lead.
Bynum said he settled down after some early jitters, and Jones was very complimentary of the sophomore.
“We always talk about when your opportunity presents itself, take advantage of it,” the coach said. “Kenny did that tonight. For him and his family, this is something they’ll remember forever.”
Bynum said he’s “really close friends” with Jakob Johnson, who played at Ribault High School for one season after moving to the United States from Germany, but the chance to earn his most significant playing time in his hometown likely spurred him in December.
“The only thing I could think about was people that look up to me and my family and people at my high school, so I couldn’t let them down,” Bynum said.
“I take a lot of pride in making my calls, because if I don’t do nothing right, I’ve got to get my calls, because everyone is lining up depending on me. I take a lot of pride in that, so I like extra film study and all that. That’s pretty much it.”
Pearson makes plays
With its receiving corps depleted by injuries, Tennessee needed a wideout to step up, and Von Pearson did just that. The junior college transfer finished with 75 yards and a touchdown on a career-high seven catches.
Pearson’s touchdown catch came at the end of the first half on a perfect back-shoulder throw from quarterback Josh Dobbs in the front corner of the end zone.
“Our wide receiver corps has been decimated with injuries,” Jones said, “but we wanted to make a point to get the ball in the hands of Alton Howard and Von Pearson.”
Tricky Tennessee
Outside of a fake field goal against Missouri, Tennessee hasn’t run many trick plays this season, and that’s probably why the halfback pass the Vols used Friday worked so well.
With good field position, momentum and a 14-0 lead, Dobbs threw a swing pass to Marlin Lane, and the senior running back hit freshman receiver Vic Wharton behind Iowa’s defense for a 49-yard touchdown.
“We always have a catalogue or an inventory of trick plays that we rep throughout the course of the year,” Jones said. “We definitely wanted to run that play, and it had to be on a certain hash. (Offensive coordinator) Mike Bajakian did a great job.
“He kept saying, ‘If we get the ball on the left hash, we’re going to run it.’ It’s one thing to call the play, and it’s another to execute it. Marlin Lane did a great job; Josh got the ball out there; Vic Wharton did a great job of the stalk-and-go and finished the play.”
Jones also called senior tight end Brendan Downs the play’s “unsung hero” for picking up an edge blitz.
Tennessee tidbits
The 45 points were the second-highest total for Tennessee in a bowl game, joining the 1994 Gator Bowl win over Virginia Tech and the 2002 Florida Citrus Bowl rout of Michigan. … The win moved Tennessee’s bowl record to 26-24. … Aaron Medley kicked a 28-yard fourth-quarter field goal to finish his freshman season 20-of-26. … Jalen Reeves-Maybin led the Vols with 13 tackles, a new career high for the sophomore. … The Vols faced just two third downs on offense in the first half.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.