Who can score the most points? We’re talking individually. That’s what Saturday’s matchup between Tennessee football and the Ole Miss Rebels seems like it’s going to come down to. Buckle up, because regardless of what happens that night at Neyland Stadium, it’s going to be a fun ride for everybody watching.
Josh Heupel and Lane Kiffin have the two best offenses in the league. Their defenses seem questionable, but it has a lot to do with how many possessions they each run in a game. Naturally, players best equipped to run those offenses will be key Saturday.
However, the one who can get the first defensive stop will have the advantage, so players on the other side of the ball who can help bring that about may be even more important. Looking at matchups all the way around, let’s go ahead and see who will stand out the most. These will be the five key Vols in Tennessee football’s matchup with Ole Miss.
5’11” 220 pounds
Beating Ole Miss starts with running the ball, so Tiyon Evans will obviously be key. Evans has had over 100 yards from scrimmage in each of the Vols’ past three games and in four of the five games he has appeared in. He has had over 100 yards rushing in each of the past two games as well, so he’s one of the team’s top offensive weapons.
Over the past two weeks, Ole Miss has allowed a combined 560 yards on the ground. Alabama Crimson Tide running back Brian Robinson Jr. had 171 yards and four touchdowns, and Arkansas Razorbacks running back Raheim Sanders had 139 yards.
The big difference for Tennessee football against the Missouri Tigers was Evans’ play on the ground, and against the South Carolina Gamecocks, Evans kept the game in hand. Len’Neth Whitehead has emerged recently, but Evans is still the key running back, so to nobody’s surprise, he’ll be key on Saturday.