Vols Return From Bye Week to Host New Mexico State on Homecoming

(utsports.com) Following its second open weekend of the season, No. 21/20 Tennessee has turned the page to Homecoming week as it welcomes New Mexico State for a 4:15 p.m. ET kickoff Saturday in Neyland Stadium.

The non-conference contest will be the annual “Salute To Service,” which honors our nation’s service members, veterans and their families. The Volunteers (6-3, 3-3 SEC) will don their special “Volunteer Spirit” Smokey Grey uniforms as a tribute to the United States Armed Forces.

“This is our next opportunity to play,” head coach Josh Heupel said. “What happens after, that’s after, you can’t control any of that. Same thing that we talk about consistently in our program, all phases of the year. Control and win right now.”

Tennessee’s passing game has been on point with a conference-leading 329.3 yards per game, a mark that ranks second nationally. Much of that success has been generated from the Vols’ outstanding trio of wide receivers, including redshirt freshman Braylon Staley. Staley, a Biletnikoff Award candidate and semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year, leads all Power Four freshmen in receiving yards (703) and touchdowns (5). The slot receiver is second among Power Four freshmen in catches with 52.

“We expected him to play at a really high level,” Heupel said. “That was part of our decision-making in the offseason as a staff. I expected that he would take another jump. When we got back in January, his focus, his preparation, we expected him, because of that growth and how consistent he was every day, to play at a really high level. Mike’s (Matthews) in that same boat, too.”

Tennessee will practice through the week in preparation for Saturday’s final non-conference regular season game that will be televised by SEC Network.