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Tennessee football: Five UAB Blazers to watch for against Vols

By Caleb Calhoun

BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY - SEPTEMBER 28: Tyler Johnston #17 of the University of Alabama Birmingham Blazers hands the ball off to Spencer Brown #4 during the game against the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers on September 28, 2019 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY - SEPTEMBER 28: Tyler Johnston #17 of the University of Alabama Birmingham Blazers hands the ball off to Spencer Brown #4 during the game against the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers on September 28, 2019 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /
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4. Jordan Smith

Edge Rusher; Junior

6’7″ 250 pounds

The push up front from defensive linemen like Tony Fair allow for the linebackers and edge rushers of the UAB Blazers to make lots of splash plays on the back end. And it’s a reason that UAB hasn’t needed its secondary to come away with too many interceptions. These weapons cash in by making all of their plays splash plays.

One of those players cashing in is Jordan Smith. He only has 21 tackles on the season, and 12 of them are solo. But he has made his tackles count in a big way. Smith is tied for second on the team with six tackles for a loss. He also has three and a half sacks and a forced fumble, proving he is consistently in on big plays.

A Florida Gators transfer, Smith is not going to be intimidated playing in an SEC stadium. He has experience on that front and has the build of an SEC defender. And recently, he has been coming on strong. All of his tackles for a loss and sacks have been in the last five games he has played, so he is consistently coming through.

As a result, Tennessee football has to be ready for him. Smith is the one defensive end listed in the system, but he is capable of doing what Darrell Taylor does and coming in off the line. Bill Clark will do whatever it takes to make sure that Smith is effective, and the tackles have to be ready for wherever he is coming from.

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