Josh Heupel and Tennessee Football should have an advantage when they visit the Arkansas Razorbacks. They’re coming off a bye, they are the better team, and the Hogs are beat up after suffering a close loss to the Texas A&M Aggies after a dogfight. However, if you look at the matchup, it’s deceptively tougher.
The game is in Fayetteville, Ark., and Sam Pittman’s team could easily be 5-0. They lost last week’s game by four and to the Oklahoma State Cowboys, on the road, in overtime. This team is dangerous with Bobby Petrino back calling plays, so UT has to take them seriously. Here are five Arkansas players to watch for against the Vols.
5. Doneiko Slaughter
Two former Tennessee Football players are starting for Arkansas: Addison Nichols at center and Doneiko Slaughter at nickel. Slaughter actually started at times for the Vols, though, and he’s produced a lot more, so he’s a much bigger threat. He has an interception, three pass deflections, two tackles for a loss and a sack. UT will have to win this game through the air, so they have to watch out for Slaughter.
4. Ja’Quinden Jackson
Probably the only true weapon for the Hogs offensively, Ja’Quinden Jackson has 79 carries for 509 yards and nine touchdowns. He also has eight catches for 85 yards. Based on the Vols’ elite defensive front, they should shut down Jackson, so he’s only on this list because of his production, but UT should overwhelm Arkansas’s offensive line, particularly Nichols up front. That doesn’t make him unimportant.
3. T.J. Metcalf
Getting back to the Arkansas secondary, T.J. Metcalf is a superstar free safety. He already has three interceptions on the year to go along with a forced fumble and a pass breakup. As mentioned, this may be the first game in which Tennessee Football truly has to put the ball in the air, so Nico Iamaleava will have to account for Metcalf at all times.
2. Landon Jackson
UT allowed two strip-sacks because of injuries at tackle against the Oklahoma Sooners. Although Lance Heard and John Campbell Jr. are expected to be back, the Vols still have to be careful with Arkansas’s edges. Landon Jackson has two sacks, four tackles for a loss and even two pass breakups to go along with 19 tackles, 13 of which were solo, so he’s an elite defensive end. UT has to account for him.
1. Taylen Green
A quarterback with a unique skills set playing for an offensive guru like Bobby Petrino is always dangerous. Taylen Green has mediocre passing stats, completing 88 of 162 passes (54.3 percent) for 1,236 yards (7.6 yards per attempt), five touchdowns and five interceptions. However, he also has 72 carries for 331 yards and four touchdowns.
Taking that into account, Tennessee Football will have to commit to containing Green. They did a great job on Jackson Arnold this way, forcing him to the bench, but they did struggle with Michael Hawkins Jr. at the Oklahoma Sooners in the fourth quarter when he came in. As a result, they aren’t guaranteed to shut him down, so they have to be careful.
