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Tennessee football: Five Vols to watch for against Aggies

By Dean Zulkofske

Dec 12, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Bryce Thompson (0) returns an interception for a touchdown during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Bryce Thompson (0) returns an interception for a touchdown during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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AUBURN, AL – OCTOBER 13: Linebacker Deandre Johnson #13 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after a big play during the fourth quarter of their game against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

These Tennessee football Volunteers players will be key on Saturday.

With their 42-17 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores last week, the Vols snapped a six-game losing streak, capturing their first victory in nearly two months. Now, Tennessee football  will look to finish its 2020 regular season on a high note against the ever so daunting No. 5 Texas A&M Aggies.

Largely in part to Texas A&M joining the SEC in 2012, the two storied football universities have only played each other thrice. Their most recent meeting wasa 45-38 Aggies win in College Station, Texas in 2016.

Saturday will be the first time Texas A&M plays in Knoxville. If Tennessee football has any chance of pulling off the upset and ruining Texas A&M’s College Football Playoff hopes, these five Vols will have to step up in a big way. The Vols we told you to watch for last week accounted for 142 yards off offense, two touchdowns, eight tackles, and a sack. Here are the key players for this week.

Linebacker. 5. player. 839. Scouting Report. Senior. Deandre Johnson. Pick Analysis

6’3″ 255 pounds; Hometown: Miami, Fla.

A big reason opposing offenses have had such success against Rocky Top’s secondary is the lack of pressure UT applies to the quarterback on a consistent basis. Deandre Johnson and the rest of the Vols’ front have been satisfactory at times, but they’ll need their best performance to close out the 2020 regular season.

Johnson, who hurried the quarterback twice and recorded three tackles against the Vanderbilt Commodores, will line up against his toughest challenge to date on Saturday. The Aggies offensive line has allowed just four sacks in eight games, the best rate in the SEC and second best margin among all power five teams.

Obviously, this doesn’t fall entirely fall on Johnson’s shoulders. All of Tennessee football’s rushers need to do their part against Texas A&M, but count on the former SEC sack leader to get pressure on Kellen Mond this weekend.

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