His reaction said it all. With the game on the line for Tennessee football on Saturday, kicker Max Gilbert saw his 43-yard attempt go wide. The Tennessee native had the chance to be the hero for the Vols, but the team ultimately suffered a heartbreaking 44-41 defeat.
You just know Gilbert had to feel terrible about the miss. However, let's make one thing clear, the loss was not on him at all. This is something former Tennessee speedster Dont'e Thornton Jr. wanted to let him know on social media right after things went down. Yup, Thornton, now with the Raiders at the next level, had a quick three-word message for Gilbert on Saturday evening that plenty of people have now seen:
Max I love you
— BigMaccud83eudd77ud83cudfff (@IamDTJ11) September 13, 2025