KNOXVILLE - It was a week later than many expected, but Trey Smith made his way back into the Tennessee starting lineup Saturday night.
The standout offensive lineman recently was cleared on a week-to-week basis to return to football after the recurrence of blood clots cut his 2018 season short by five games. The 6-foot-6, 323-pounder was at left guard Saturday in his first start at that position after playing mostly left tackle early in his Volunteers career.
After trying nine linemen and shuffling rotations in the season-opening loss to Georgia State, Tennessee coaches settled on five early against BYU: Smith, Jahmir Johnson at left tackle, Brandon Kennedy at center, Ryan Johnson at right guard and Marcus Tatum at right tackle.
Feshman tackles Wanya Morris and Darnell Wright entered the game for the Vols' fourth possession.
Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Tennessee wide receiver Jauan Jennings, left, pulls in a 13-yard touchdown against BYU linebacker Chaz Ah You during the first overtime of Saturday night's game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.J.J. backs it up
During the week leading up to the game, senior receiver Jauan Jennings said he was the leader of the Tennessee team and would take charge with his words and example. He backed up that talk early in Saturday's game.
In the right place at the right time, Jennings caught a tipped pass at the end zone for his second touchdown in as many games to score the first points of the night. A couple of drives later, he was left wide open and hauled in a 51-yard completion into BYU territory.
He led the Vols with 75 yards on three first-half catches.
Freshman influence
In addition to Morris and Wright, the Vols continued their infusion of true freshmen into the lineup against the Cougars.
Running back Eric Gray continued his hot start to the season with 55 first-half rushing yards and 62 yards of total offense. Linebacker Henry To'o To'o and cornerback Warren Burrell each made his second start, with To'o To'o credited with four first-half stops and Burrell with one.
At one point in the second quarter, the Vols had four true freshmen in the defensive lineup: Burrell, To'o To'o and outside linebackers Quavaris Crouch and Roman Harrison.
On offense, Ramel Keyton also got some action.
First-drive success
Saturday was the first time in the Jeremy Pruitt era that the Vols scored on their first possession of the game, when Jarrett Guarantano found Jennings for the 5-yard score. That capped a 15-play, 80-yard drive that took 7:15 of game time.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.