Eli Drinkwitz has a very experienced team that knows how to win. When Tennessee Football visits his Missouri Tigers on Saturday, the Vols will have their hands full. Mizzou has a balanced attack on offense and relies on a pass rush on defense. Taking all of that into account, here are the five players on that team the Vols will have to key on Saturday.
5. Cody Schrader, RB
The SEC’s leading rusher, Cody Schrader has 162 carries for 919 yards and 10 touchdowns on the year. Eli Drinkwitz’s zone read runs will require the Vols to stay in their lanes if they are going to shut Shrader down. For the most part, they’ve been good at stopping the run this year, but this is going to be a unique test that they haven’t faced yet.
4. Kris Abrams-Draine, CB
If Kamal Hadden were healthy, this would be a great battle of cornerbacks. Both had top 10 PFF grades through October before Hadden went down with a season-ending injury, and both are great at picking off passes. Abrams-Draine is top 10 in coverage, and he also has four interceptions on the year, so he’s a major threat if Joe Milton III isn’t careful.
3. Darius Robinson, DL
Mizzou is tied for 17th nationally in sacks with 27. Johnny Walker Jr., Ty’ron Hopper, Daylan Carnell, Chuck Hicks and even Nyles Gaddy, who played for Tennessee Football in 2019 and 2020, deserve mentions. However, Darius Robinson is the star. At 6’5″ 290, Robinson lines up at both end and tackle, and he has eight and a half tackles for a loss and five and a half sacks on the year. He’s the threat.
2. Luther Burden, WR
He’s questionable, but for now we’re assuming he’ll play. There are questions about the Vols’ secondary without Hadden, and Luther Burden is one of the best wide receivers in the SEC. With 64 catches for 958 yards and seven touchdowns, he’s third in the league in receiving yards and a major threat. Theo Wease complements him well, but Burden is going to be a burden for the Vols’ secondary.
1. Brady Cook, QB
Throwing Burden the ball is the obvious, biggest threat to Tennessee Football. It may be cliche, but Mizzou’s strength is its quarterback. Brady Cook has completed 183 of 272 passes (67.3 percent) for 2,471 yards (9.1 yards per attempt), 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also has 173 rushing yards and five more TDs. Containing him will be crucial for the Vols.
