He wasn’t the most standout player defensively, but Quavaris Crouch had to withstand more than most people know. Remember, Henry To’o To’o was suspended for the first half of the game, making it clear that Crouch was going to be a crucial player at insider linebackers. Things got worse later in the first half.
With Alabama driving and near the goal line, Daniel Bituli was ejected for a targeting penalty. So Tennessee football lost both of its starting inside linebackers, and that put a ton of pressure on Crouch to make big key plays. Alabama scored a touchdown on that drive, but with Crouch running the show, they did not score on either of their final two drives in the first half.
In the second half, To’o To’o returned, and the two linebackers did their job. With them running the defense, they only allowed one score in the second half, and the score came after an unnecessary roughness penalty on a third down stop. So these guys did their job together.
Crouch, meanwhile, finished the game with just four tackles. But he assisted on a tackle for a loss and a quarterback hurry. It’s also worth noting that he had a one-yard run to set up a 4th and goal from inside the one-yard line late in the game. The fumble returned for a touchdown followed, but coaches are now finding real value in Crouch.