Across the board, Tennessee football is better than East Tennessee State University by a large margin. However, the Volunteers want to put this game away by halftime so they can rest for the Georgia Bulldogs. ETSU does have some players they’ll have to watch out for if that’s the case. Here are the five Buccaneers who will be key against the Vols.
5. Ashton Flinn, OL
Okay, maybe the Bucs can’t do anything in the trenches, but they did run the ball for 392 yards last week in their 45-17 win over the Murray State Racers. Preseason All-Southern Conference offensive lineman Ashton Flinn was a big reason why. Bryson Eason was mentioned as a key for UT in this game, and he’s going to have to get a push on that offensive line. Winning the battles with Flinn will be key there.
4. Ty Anderson, LB
Josh Heupel likely wants to build up a Heisman campaign for Joey Aguilar while doing enough to put it away early. Either on the ground or through the air, that will require them to keep an eye on Ty Anderson. Last week, Anderson had eight total tackles and a sack. The Linebacker is a force to be reckoned with, and with the right schemes, he’ll give UT trouble.
3. Nick Hunter, EDGE
Another preseason All-SoCon player, we mentioned Tennessee football left tackle Lance Heard as key to this for a reason. Nick Hunter had four tackles, two of which were solo, and a sack last week, and he is a great edge rusher for his level. A couple of sacks Saturday could extend this game beyond what the Vols want, so Heard has to take him out of the game.
2. DeVontae Houston, RB
While the offensive line paved the way for ETSU, DeVontae Houston was the star with the ball in his hands last week, carrying it 14 times for 128 yards and a touchdown. He looks like the best offensive weapon on the team early on, so stopping him will be the key part to taking away the Bucs’ offense. UT has good linebackers capable of shutting down such a running back, but their heads need to be in it.
1. Cade McNamara/Jacolby Criswell, QB
Both quarterbacks could play Saturday, so they share this spot. Cade McNamara is the experienced, drop-back passer who played Big Ten ball with the Michigan Wolverines and Iowa Hawkeyes, once earning All-Big Ten in 2021. Jacoby Criswell is the dual-threat quarterback who had two separate stints in three years with the North Carolina Tar Heels and played for the Arkansas Razorbacks in between.
With Cam Aiken as his offensive coordinator, first-year ETSU head coach Will Healy uses west coast formations by spreading teams out but with concepts developed by Lane Kiffin. McNamara runs that perfectly. Criswell comes in and brings an immediate change of pace, though. Using both will keep Tennessee football guessing, so the Vols have to prepare.
