The Daily Times

Tennessee fans wondered how true freshman Justin Worley would fare in his second start at quarterback, but the entry of another true freshman in the University of Tennessee football team’s game on Saturday intrigued me more.

I’m talking about former Alcoa Tornado running back and Vol redshirt freshman Jaron Toney. Having seen Toney’s performance in fall scrimmages, I’ve been waiting for him to get the nod all season.

Tennessee coach Derek Dooley said he has been watching Toney practice for two years and saw a back that was “instinctive” and “fast” on Saturday.

“We are searching in the running game. Jaron has run really well in practice for a long time,” Dooley said. “He is a walk-on so you just always dismiss him. But we are not lighting it up running the ball and I wanted to see Jaron. I should have played him last week.”

Toney, who set the state record for touchdowns at 50 in 2009, got his first carry as a Tennesee player near the end of the first quarter against Middle Tennessee in Neyland Stadium in the Vols’ 24-0 win over the Blue Raiders. On that first tote, he ran for 1 yard and gave Tennessee a first down on its second scoring drive.

Toney returned in the second quarter, banging his way to 25 more yards on seven carries, including three first downs. He helped extend a 15-play, 86-yard drive for the Vols’ third touchdown of the game.

A Mr. Football finalist in Class AA, Toney ground out the yardage in typical, hard-nosed fashion. He pounded the ball up the middle, breaking tackles, for 30 total yards in the first half on nine carries. Toney talked about getting in the game for the first time in post-game interviews alongside former Alcoa teammate and UT kicker Derrick Brodus.

“I was thankful to get (the carries),” Toney said. “It was just a great opportunity.”

He led all Tennessee running backs in total yardage.

Toney finished with 56 yards on 19 carries, averaging 2.7 yards per carry. His longest gain was eight yards. Toney was trailed by another freshman, Marlin Lane (37 yards), sophomore Rajion Neal (24) and senior Tauren Poole (20), who had two touchdowns.

Tennessee’s total rushing of 120 yards didn’t enthuse Dooley, however.

“We are searching to get some running yards,” Dooley said. “We had a big run from Rajion Neal but then we got the penalty. We tried some quick screens. We just aren’t very good running the ball.”

The Vols relied on the passing game for most of their yardage. Worley completed 23 of 32 passes for 291 yards. His longest was a 47-yard pass to Da’Rick Rogers, who led all Tennessee receivers with 137 yards and a touchdown.

Though Worley overthrew a couple of Vol receivers, he avoided the sort of costly interceptions that he made in his first appearance against South Carolina a week ago.

“This week I just tried to stay calm and not let my nerves get to me,” Worley said. “It really boosts my confidence.”

Tennessee (4-5, 0-5 SEC) travels to Arkansas next week.

Darren Dunlap is a sports writer at The Daily Times. He wrote from Knoxville. Email him at (darren.dunlap@thedailytimes.com)

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