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Tennessee football: Five Alabama Crimson Tide to watch for against Vols

By Caleb Calhoun

Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses (32) during a media availability at Bryant-Denny Stadium on the UA campus in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday August 3, 2019.Photo22
Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses (32) during a media availability at Bryant-Denny Stadium on the UA campus in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday August 3, 2019.Photo22 /
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Oct 3, 2020; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama wide receiver John Metchie III (8) floats into the end zone with a touchdown after catching a pass from Alabama quarterback Mac Jones (10) and scoring against Texas A&M at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama defeated A&M 52-24. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr/The Tuscaloosa News via USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2020; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama wide receiver John Metchie III (8) floats into the end zone with a touchdown after catching a pass from Alabama quarterback Mac Jones (10) and scoring against Texas A&M at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama defeated A&M 52-24. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr/The Tuscaloosa News via USA TODAY Sports /

Wide receiver. Sophomore. John Metchie III. 2. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player. 829

6’0″ 195 pounds; Hometown: Brampton, Ontario (Canada)

All the talk this year surrounding the Alabama Crimson Tide’s passing game has been about DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle, and it’s definitely well-deserved. They each have four receiving touchdowns on the year and are averaging over 100 yards a game. Waddle leads the way with 25 catches for 557 yards, but Smith has 38 catches for 483 yards.

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Coming up behind both of them, though, is a guy averaging 87 yards a game in John Metchie III. Hailing from the same place Tennessee football’s go-to receiver, Josh Palmer, comes from, Metchie has 14 catches for 348 yards and three touchdowns. Him stepping up as a third weapon has freed Smith and Waddle to be even more effective, which is why Mac Jones looks so great.

Most importantly, this is a matchup issue. Bryce Thompson, Alontae Taylor and Kenneth George Jr. will be handling Smith and Waddle at different times. As we already know, UT’s biggest weakness so far this year has been covering the quick slants to the tight ends and the slot guys. Shi Smith of the South Carolina Gamecocks had 140 yards and a touchdown against the Vols for a reason.

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Metchie has the perfect profile to exploit the worst aspects of the Vols defense. Once No. 3 receivers catch a few passes over the middle, which he can do, it ruins everything Jeremy Pruitt and Derrick Ansley want to do. As a result, they’ll have to trust their cornerbacks to handle the other two receivers and do what they can to contain this guy. He will be the key.

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