A cool name is one thing. A big-time highlight is another. But add those two together, and you will have social media buzzing and that is exactly what Tennessee Volunteers' wide receiver Squirrel White just did with his spectacular catch in the first quarter of the Vols' home game against the South Carolina Gamecocks.
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The Vols have the black uniforms on and are playing under the lights, and Tennessee is looking for revenge for the beatdown South Carolina gave them last season, knocking them out of playoff contention.
With under two minutes left in the first quarter and the ball on Tennessee's own 46-yard line, the Volunteers found themselves trailing 10-7. On the prior play, the Vols were holding their breath as running back Jabari Small fumbled at the end of a 21-yard run, but it remained Tennessee football.
On first down, quarterback Joe Milton dropped back and launched a pass to White who made an incredible catch at the Gamecocks' four-yard line. While trying to make a play on the ball, White was bumped and pushed down and while falling backward, White reached down by his feet to snag the ball and complete the catch. No flag for pass interference on the play was thrown but White let his catching do the talking.
Squirrel Freaking White pic.twitter.com/d4YSHojHeP
— gmannVOLS (@gmannVOLS) October 1, 2023
This wild catch set up the Vols for 1st and goal and just two plays later Tennessee would punch it in on a two-yard touchdown run by Jabari Small, taking a 14-10 lead with 42 seconds remaining in the first quarter. That catch was White's third reception of the first half and brought him up to 71 yards. White is showing to be Milton's favorite target so far as only four other receivers have caught just a singular pass from QB1.
After that catch, Squirrel White lead all receivers on both teams in receptions, with five, and in yards, with 86.
