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Tennessee football: Five key Vols to watch for vs. Alabama

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee linebacker Aaron Beasley (24) celebrates after Tennessee's football game against Florida in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.Kns Ut Florida Football Bp
Tennessee linebacker Aaron Beasley (24) celebrates after Tennessee's football game against Florida in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.Kns Ut Florida Football Bp /
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Offensive skill players have been the ones standing out for Tennessee football throughout the year so far and get all the headlines for them being 5-0 and in the top 10. However, throughout the course of the season, playmakers on defense have been just as crucial, a hugely underrated part of Josh Heupel’s second season.

Now, with the Alabama Crimson Tide coming to town, the defensive playmakers will actually be crucial for the Vols if they are going to have a chance in this one. As we get set to break down the most important UT players in this game, those specific types of players will pop up.

This isn’t to say offensive skill players won’t play a role, but that’s been treated as the main reason the Vols have a chance in this one. It’s not. Defense and solid play in the trenches is actually more important, and we’ll break down why. Here are Tennessee football’s five most important players in the Vols’ matchup with Alabama.

These Tennessee football Volunteers will be critical against the Crimson Tide.

Tennessee defensive back Trevon Flowers (1) does the gator chomp after Tennessee’s football game against Florida in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.Kns Ut Florida Football Bp
Tennessee defensive back Trevon Flowers (1) does the gator chomp after Tennessee’s football game against Florida in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.Kns Ut Florida Football Bp /

player. 839. Scouting Report. 5. Senior. Trevon Flowers. Pick Analysis. Defensive back

5’11” 200 pounds

Last week, Trevon Flowers had his first interception of the season. Regardless of whether or not Bryce Young plays on Saturday, the Vols will have to be good at containment, and the safeties have a huge part of that. Even more pressure is on Flowers now, though, because of the news surrounding Jaylen McCollough.

With Warren Burrell out for the year and McCollough likely out, UT’s banged up secondary is in even worse shape than initially thought. At free safety, Flowers is the veteran and the glue of the group. He’ll be responsible for holding everybody together back there no matter what.

If Young can go, though, then Flowers will have a ton of pressure on him, as the aerial assault will be a lot worse. Tennessee football needs him to be on top of his game. Assuming the Vols are able to bring pressure, there will be a lot more deep passes and plays in which receivers try to win one-on-one matchups. Flowers has a chance against this Bama receiving group.

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