Tennessee vs. Arkansas: Five Vols to Watch for vs. Razorbacks

Sep 12, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers mascot carries the flag through the fans during Vol Walk prior to the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

The Tennessee vs. Arkansas matchup is a football game to save the season for both teams. Here are five Volunteers players to watch for against the Hogs.

Perhaps the complete and utter disappointment to start the season for both teams makes this game even more intriguing than it initially would have been with both expected to be in the Top 25 at the time.

Or perhaps it’s just going to be a bright spot for one team as both stumble to terrible years.

Either way, Tennessee and Arkansas will meet Saturday with both teams looking to salvage the season, and if the Vols want to get back on track, and get Butch Jones off the hot seat, they need certain players to step up in this game in order to pull out a victory.

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Tennessee is meeting a very different team from the Florida Gators than the Arkansas Razorbacks, although at times they could have seemed identical on paper.

Both teams were expected to win with great defense but a suspect passing game at the beginning of the year. However, Arkansas’s defense has been suspect from the start, Florida’s defense has been as good as advertised, and while the Razorbacks are not winning with their running game, another strenght of theirs, Florida was able to use its passing game to beat Tennessee, shocking everybody.

That leaves this game wide open to a degree because we don’t know what Arkansas team the Vols are dealing with. Are they the Razorbacks of the preseason that took Texas A&M into overtime? Or are they the Razorbacks who made Bret Bielema look ridiculous by losing two non-conference games?

Tennessee can win if either team shows up on Saturday, but it will take a solid effort and an ability to close the deal. Here are the five players to watch for when the Vols play the Razorbacks Saturday.

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