Tennessee’s defense should receive residual benefits from their lopsided win against Akron on Saturday. The Vols’ defenders could use a rest at times. Tennessee also needs to build more depth. Mission accomplished.
Even the most ardent Tennessee football fan might have had to take a look at their program to see who was trotting onto the field against Akron in the second half during a 63-6 thrashing. The lopsided affair allowed the Vols to play younger, inexperienced players.
That was a luxury the Vols didn’t have a year ago. Depth? The Vols had none in 2021. That meant Tennessee’s top defenders had to stay on the field for far too long far too often. That put the Vols in a tough position and it showed as the Vols, statistically, had one of the worst teams in the SEC.
That wasn’t the case against Akron.
“It creates depth,” Tennessee defensive back Jaylen McCollough said. “It gives the opportunity for a lot of guys to play and I feel like that will help us down the stretch. A lot of guys getting comfortable with the speed of the game, we can start rotating and keep everybody fresh. I feel like it will be for our benefit and our game in the future.”
DB Jaylen McCollough and WR Jalin Hyatt
The Vols will be close to cracking the Top 10 after three teams ahead of them, Miami, BYU and Michigan State, lost on Saturday. Tennessee was ranked as the No. 15 team in the nation headed into the Akron game.
“We’re riding high,” Tennessee defensive back Jaylen McCollough said, “but we can’t get satisfied and can’t settle. We have to continue to go to work, continue to prepare.
“We know Florida is going to come in here and try to light the scoreboard up so we have to go to work and prepare the right way and focus on the details that are going to make us successful,” McCollough said.
The Gators, who had to battle to beat South Florida 31-28 on Saturday, are 2-1 this season as they rebuild under first-year Gator head coach Billy Napier.
Tennessee is expected to be a touchdown favorite against the Gators.
