Garth Brooks had friends in low places. Joshua Dobbs, Jauan Jennings and Jalen Reeves-Maybin have friends in high places.
The former Tennessee Volunteers might be far from home and wearing different colors, with Dobbs and Jennings in San Francisco with the 49ers and Reeves-Maybin in Detroit with the Lions, but the NFL life is home sweet home to them.
On Monday night in San Francisco, the trio of former teammates graced the Levi’s Stadium field on “Monday Night Football,” as the Lions knocked off the 49ers in their continued quest for the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
With Brock Purdy injured late in the fourth quarter, San Francisco called on the backup, Dobbs, to quarterback in the final 1:36 of game action. It didn’t take long for Dobbs to find his former Vols receiver, Jennings, connecting with him on the first play for a 15-yard catch.
Fittingly enough, Reeves-Maybin recorded the tackle on the play, a Tennessee trifecta.
Three-of-four Dobbs’ pass attempts were in the direction of Jennings, who finished with seven catches and 67 yards on the night.
Monday night’s game certainly lacked drama in the final few minutes, especially once Dobbs came in, but that doesn’t mean Vols fans can’t feel a little nostalgia during this magical time of year. It was less than a decade ago that Dobbs and Jennings connected for one of the more memorable plays in Tennessee football’s recent history.
The quarterback heaved up a 43-yard Hail Mary prayer to the end zone, with his now-49ers teammate coming down with it to beat Georgia in 2016.
Dobbs has been well-traveled in his NFL career since being drafted in the fourth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017. The Niners became the fifth team he has played for since entering the league.
Jennings has lived a more charmed NFL life, spending his entire career with San Francisco since being drafted in the seventh round of the 2020 draft. He’s been a consistent performer in four seasons, infamously catching and throwing a touchdown in Super Bowl 58. Jennings has broken out in 2024 with injuries forcing him into a bigger role, collecting 70-of-103 targets for 923 yards and six touchdowns.
While Purdy will eventually reclaim his starting gig, it was a nice moment for Tennessee football, especially with the Tennessee Titans and Vols heading for a long offseason.
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