Tennessee football: Five Missouri Tigers to watch for against Vols

If Tennessee football is going to make sure they are bowl eligible after Saturday, the Volunteers have to watch out for these five Mizzou players.

A program that is built on elite weapons hasn’t changed ever since Barry Odom became head coach. The Missouri Tigers still like to use major playmakers on defense and revolve their offense around skill players. Tennessee football will have to be ready for all of that when the two schools face off on Saturday.

In order to prepare for this game, Jeremy Pruitt has to make sure he’s ready for a bunch of different weapons. Coming off a bye week, he’s had plenty of time to get ready for what he will be facing in Columbia.

After all, Mizzou is reeling down the stretch of this season, and Tennessee football is red-hot. Even if this game is on the road, this is the perfect opportunity for them to be able cash in and reach bowl eligibility.

As we get set to look at the key Tigers for UT to watch out for, that should be in the back of the minds of any Vols fans nervous. This team is rolling. But what should make people nervous on Rocky Top is the number of weapons Odom’s team has.

Pruitt actually caught a break because Cale Garrett, the best coverage linebacker on the team, has been out since the fifth game of the season. And in case you haven’t noticed, the Tigers are 1-4 without him.

However, that doesn’t mean that they are lacking in talent, and the Vols need to be ready. They have lost five of seven to Mizzou and the last two games each by a score of 50-17 for a reason. And Mizzou is 5-1 at home for a reason.

Who is responsible for that? Which players do the Vols need to keep an eye out for to try to break those trends? Let’s get to naming them. These are the five Missouri Tigers to watch for when they host Tennessee football on Saturday.