Tennessee Football at Florida: Five Keys to a Vols Victory

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Tennessee linebacker Aaron Beasley (6) celebrates during a football game between Tennessee and Austin Peay at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. /

3. Defense Continuing To Step Up

Last weekend against Austin Peay, Tennessee Football’s defense was led by senior LB Aaron Beasley. He was an absolute horse on defense and was all over the field, making play after play. Beasley had nine tackles, and eight of them were solo tackles. He also ended up with a career-high five tackles for loss, two of them being sacks. This was the most by a Volunteer defender in a single game since 2004.

The Tennessee Football defense continues to lead in almost every defensive stat:

TFLs per game – 1st FBS (12.5)
Sacks per game – T1st FBS (5.5)
Total sacks – T1st FBS (11)
Total TFLs – 2nd FBS (25)
Aaron Beasley – 1st FBS TFLs (6)

If the Vols can continue this dominance on defense, then I don’t see a way that the Gators pull off the home upset.

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