Tennessee football: Five BYU Cougars to watch for against Vols

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Zach Wilson #11 of the Brigham Young Cougars throws the ball against the Utah Utes in a game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Zach Wilson #11 of the Brigham Young Cougars throws the ball against the Utah Utes in a game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
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Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images
Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images

Given their opener, Tennessee football has to watch out for lots of talent on Brigham Young. Here are five players the Volunteers need to keep an eye on.

Both teams may be 0-1, but Tennessee football has a lot more to be concerned about on Saturday than the BYU Cougars. And if they are going to right the ship in Jeremy Pruitt’s second season, the Vols need to get ready now.

Part of that involves being aware of what they face. Last week, they were not ready at all for the Georgia State Panthers. That should be a wake-up call for UT, as they get set to face a team with much better talent all over the field.

When Kalani Sitake’s team heads to Neyland Stadium for the first meeting between the two programs Saturday night, he will be bringing with him a team that has lots of experience and plenty of key weapons and returning talent after going 7-6 last year. There are plenty of players Tennessee football will have to watch out for.

As we get set with our weekly look at key players on the Vols’ opponent, it’s important for us to note that both sides of the ball have quite a good bit of talent. Many players on this team were recruited and have played for major programs in Power Five conferences.

Don’t forget that BYU is an Independent with the goal of landing a spot in a Power Five conference eventually, and they were able to count as a Power Five opponent for UT this year. So clearly they are a quality program.

But they’re looking to take a step forward this year, just like the Vols. And there’s a bit of desperation in play after an 0-1 start following a loss to the Utah Utes, even if it’s significantly less desperation than Rocky Top. So Pruitt and his staff will have to make sure all the key guys on the Cougars are accounted for.

Who are those key guys? If BYU pulls off the upset and sends UT to 0-2, which players will be the reason for it? Take a look at that here. These are the five key players Tennessee football needs to watch out for when the Vols face the Cougars Saturday night.