Nobody on defense makes plays for the Vanderbilt Commodores the way Dayo Odeyingbo does on the defensive line. And he has the potential to wreak havoc on Tennessee football if the Vols aren’t careful Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium. As a result, he’s the top defensive player on our list that UT needs to watch out for .
At 6’6″ 275 pounds, Odeyingbo would seem to be undersized. However, he actually uses that to his advantage, as he can line up anywhere up front, and he has managed to channel that into being a very effective SEC player. Don’t think for a second that he can’t continue that trend when heading to Rocky Top.
For the season, Odeyingbo has 40 tackles, 18 of which are solo. But he also has nine and a half tackles for a loss and one and a half sacks. Those are very impressive numbers for a guy who plays his position. Oh, he had an interception once in his freshman season. Simply put, he always finds ways to make plays.
The Vols have improved significantly as the year has gone on up front. Their offensive line is now pretty solid. But they still are starting two freshman offensive tackles, and they are capable of inconsistencies. If that continues in this game, they could have serious trouble with Odeyingbo. Jarrett Guarantano could return to his early-season self with that guy in his face.