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

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 10, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive linemen Byron Young (6) and Tyler Baron (9) celebrate a defensive stop against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Tennessee won 34-27 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive linemen Byron Young (6) and Tyler Baron (9) celebrate a defensive stop against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Tennessee won 34-27 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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After relying on big plays and superstar receivers in the passing game with a Heisman caliber quarterback over the past few weeks, Tennessee football is about to be hit with a change of pace. The Vols face an elite pass defense in the Kentucky Wildcats and a team in general that relies on slowing things down as much as possible.

This is unlike anybody else they have faced this year, and while on paper they should be better, Kentucky knows how to make things ugly. As a result, if Rocky Top is going to win this game, the superstars have to be a bit different this week. That doesn’t mean there aren’t usual suspects on the list as we get set to name them.

However, the standout Vols to exploit their biggest weaknesses aren’t what you’ve seen the past two weeks. This draws more similarities to the LSU Tigers and Pittsburgh Panthers. Let’s break down how. These are the five key Vols to watch for when Tennessee football hosts Kentucky.

The Tennessee football Volunteers will have to rely on more than just skill players to beat UK this year.

Tennessee defensive lineman/linebacker Tyler Baron (9) during the Vol Walk before Tennessee’s football game against Florida in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.Kns Ut Florida Football
Tennessee defensive lineman/linebacker Tyler Baron (9) during the Vol Walk before Tennessee’s football game against Florida in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.Kns Ut Florida Football /

5. player. Defensive end. Pick Analysis. Junior. Tyler Baron. 839. Scouting Report

6’5″ 260 pounds

Kentucky has an NFL-caliber quarterback in Will Levis, and the Vols have major issues in the secondary. How can they offset that? They have to bring lots of pressure. UT has a collection of edge rushers who have shown they can make plays, and this is the week in which those guys have to step up if the Vols are going to win.

Tyler Baron is the first of those guys. Baron has two tackles for a loss, a sack and 11 total tackles on the year, five of which were solo. However, he’s been knocking on the door quite a few times, and this is the perfect game for him to really burst onto the scene.

Levis’ lack of mobility should help Baron in a big way, and Tennessee football will be counting on him. If he is able to get rid of the ball, Levis has the potential to be the fifth straight 300-plus yard passer against the Vols, and honestly, without Baron making an impact, he could push for 500 yards given how this secondary has played.

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