Tennessee defense shines in rout of Kentucky as Georgia looms

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Nobody has stopped Tennessee’s record-setting offense all season, and now, heading into a potential top-three showdown with Georgia, the Vols’ defense is showing all the signs of peaking at just the right time.

The No. 3 Vols smothered No. 19 Kentucky in a 44-6 victory on Saturday night at Neyland Stadium, a game that saw Tennessee hold Kentucky scoreless for the final three quarters of the game. The Vols hounded projected first-round draft pick Will Levis into three interceptions and sacked him four times.

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker, who is making a strong case for the Heisman Trophy and threw three more touchdown passes against the Wildcats, said he is not the least bit surprised to see the defense playing at an elevated level.

“I see the defensive guys putting in extra work, whether it’s getting on the Jugs [gun], which you can see these guys making great plays on the ball and coming out and playing with their hair on fire,” Hooker said. “I’m extremely proud of them, and to compete against them every day, it’s a heated battle on that practice field.”

One of the best signs for the Vols entering the Georgia game is that they are beginning to sort out things in their secondary, which took some lumps earlier in the season. Junior Doneiko Slaughter started at cornerback against Kentucky after lining up at safety earlier this season and made two huge plays.

In other words, he might not be going back to safety anytime soon. The 6-foot, 190-pound Slaughter delivered a crushing hit on Kentucky receiver Dane Key in the second quarter, forcing a deflection that linebacker Juwan Mitchell intercepted and returned 48 yards. Then in the third quarter, Slaughter produced Tennessee’s third interception of the game when he had excellent coverage and made a leaping play on the sideline.

“I just like hitting people, obviously,” Slaughter said. “That’s why I play defense, but my guys are there helping make that play, too, hustling to the ball….