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Tennessee’s offensive line had ‘point to prove’ all season

Tennessee head coach Butch Jones argues a call during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, in Columbia, Mo. Tennessee won the game 19-8. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Tennessee head coach Butch Jones argues a call during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, in Columbia, Mo. Tennessee won the game 19-8. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson) Tennessee head coach Butch Jones argues a call during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, in Columbia, Mo. Tennessee won the game 19-8. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

By Patrick Brown 5 min read

In a rush

Tennessee’s rushing yardage totals from each game this season:Bowling Green — 399Oklahoma — 129Western Carolina — 210Florida — 254Arkansas — 133Georgia — 207Alabama — 132Kentucky — 249South Carolina — 153North Texas — 237Missouri — 248

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Tennessee’s offensive line heard all week about how good Missouri’s defense was up front.

That was only part of what has motivated the Volunteers all season long.

The team’s most maligned unit a year ago, the offensive line has come a long way from giving up sacks by the bunches in 2014, when the Vols ranked near the bottom of the Southeastern Conference in rushing.

“Almost every week we have a point to prove because of what happened last year and how we were looked down upon and looked at as the weakness of the team,” senior left tackle Kyler Kerbyson said after Tennessee ran for 248 yards and allowed no sacks in Saturday night’s 19-8 win at Missouri.