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Tennessee football at Vanderbilt: 10 keys for Vols and Commodores

By Caleb Calhoun

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - NOVEMBER 7: Harrison Bailey #15 hands off the ball to Eric Gray #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on November 7, 2020 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Volunteers 24-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - NOVEMBER 7: Harrison Bailey #15 hands off the ball to Eric Gray #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on November 7, 2020 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Volunteers 24-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Vanderbilt defensive lineman Cameron Robinson (66) celebrates a play with Vanderbilt defensive lineman Drew Birchmeier (91) and Vanderbilt safety Anfernee Orji (26) during a game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019.Utvs Vandy1130
Vanderbilt defensive lineman Cameron Robinson (66) celebrates a play with Vanderbilt defensive lineman Drew Birchmeier (91) and Vanderbilt safety Anfernee Orji (26) during a game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019.Utvs Vandy1130 /

1. How does Vanderbilt handle its depleted roster?

This is the big story of the day. While Tennessee football and the Vanderbilt Commodores are having a disastrous season, many players are being incentivized to opt out of playing. There’s nothing to play for, after all.

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It’s worse for Vanderbilt. An 0-8 team that just saw its head coach fired isn’t going to have many players want to risk too much when they are all about to have another year of eligibility left anyway. The result has been a wave of opt-outs that, combined with injuries, is leaving Todd Fitch with little to work with in his first game as interim head coach.

There’s a chance that the Commodores have less than 50 scholarship players on Saturday. Most of the damage is on the defensive side of the ball, as defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, linebacker Michael Owusu and cornerback Maxwell Worship are all out.

The defensive line has been wrecked the worst, with Rutger Reitmaier, Daevion Davis and Derek Green all being out. That’s affecting the offensive line too, though, as Drew Birchmeier, who had been playing on that side of the ball, had to move back over to defensive tackle just to provide the necessary depth.

Next. Vols stock report after Week 14. dark

Taking all this into account, Tennessee football had better not lose to this team. It would be the most embarrassing loss in school history. However, Vandy players at least have something to play for on this front. They all have something to prove.

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