Tennessee football: Five key Vols to watch for vs. Akron
3. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Defensive back. Senior. Jaylen McCollough. player. 839
6’0″ 205 pounds
As we mentioned, Akron throws the ball a lot. That brings the cornerbacks into play, but given the RPOs, it also brings the safeties into play. Trevon Flowers will also be crucial here. However, Jaylen McCollough is used a lot more when dealing with running plays, and while Akron does seem to focus on the pass, you can’t ignore the run.
McCollough will have a crucial role similar to Tennessee football’s linebackers in terms of making the right read on those RPOs and acting accordingly. He has eight tackles for the year so far, four of which were solo, but he may need to come up with more in this one.
Ironically, the last time the Vols faced Moorhead, that 2019 game against Mississippi State, was the first time McCollough saw real action. Flowers intercepted a pass and suffered a broken leg. McCollough came in to start alongside Nigel Warrior and finished the year at free safety.
After Warrior left, McCollough moved over to strong safety, Flowers took back over free safety, and the two are in their third year starting together. Both will be key once again when facing Moorhead’s offense, but while Flowers had an interception and a sack last week, it may be McCollough’s turn to do something of that nature.