Tennessee vs Florida: Five Gators to Watch for Against the Vols

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Sep 26, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) and defensive lineman Alex McCalister (14) celebrate as they tackled Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the Tennessee Volunteers 28-27. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The much-anticipated Tennessee vs Florida game is back this Saturday. Here are five Gators to watch for against the Volunteers in both teams’ SEC opener.

Perhaps the biggest game of Tennessee’s season and coach Butch Jones’ career will occur this Saturday: Tennessee vs Florida.

The No. 14 Vols face their archenemy the No. 19 Florida Gators at 3:30 p.m. in Neyland Stadium.

The game will be the first of a four-week stretch of back-to-back games against the toughest competition on Tennessee’s schedule. It is a stretch that will determine the trajectory of the Vols’ season for better or worse. And no game will have more influence on Tennessee’s season than the one against the Gators on Saturday.

We know that coming into this match-up with the Gators, Tennessee’s major areas of concern are the abysmal play of their offensive line, linebacker depth, and now—with the news that senior cornerback and team captain Cam Sutton will miss an extended period of time with a fractured ankle—the overall well-being of their secondary.

In order to make up for these shortcomings, the Vols will have to rely on the usual suspects. That’s the only way they can break an eleven-game losing streak to the Gators.

The abilities of Josh Dobbs, Jalen Hurd, Derek Barnett, and Jalen Reeves-Maybin will have to be used to their full extent if Tennessee wants to win. This is a given.

But who are some of the key play-makers that could make a difference for the Florida Gators? Which players should the Vols be on the look out for once kickoff arrives?

Here are five Florida Gators players that Vol Nation should keep a close eye on this Saturday in the Tennessee vs Florida game.

Jan 1, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Jake Rudock (15) throws a pass as he pressured by Florida Gators linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) during the second quarter in the 2016 Citrus Bowl at Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Jarrad Davis

Linebacker, Senior

The first of many Gator defenders who can wreak havoc on Tennessee’s struggling offensive line, Jarrad Davis looks to finish his career at Florida undefeated in the Tennessee vs Florida game.

Davis was pegged to be one of the best linebackers in the SEC and the country in the preseason and early indications are that he is living up to his lofty expectations.

Through Florida’s first three games, Davis has accumulated 18 tackles, two TFLs and two sacks.

Davis is essentially the heart and soul of the Gator rush defense. If the Vols hope to recreate the success they had in the ground game against Florida a year ago (254 yards), they will have to get through Davis in order to make a big rushing play.

That’s where the challenge lies.

While Davis may not be the best tackler at times, his ability to quickly cover the field could make it difficult for the Vols to run outside the tackles on Saturday.

Also, you know that Florida coach Jim McElwain and defensive coordinators Geoff Collins and Randy Shannon would like to take advantage of the Vols offensive line woes (we’ll touch on that more in this list) from the opening drive. A blitzing Davis could spell disaster for the UT offense.

Davis had a solid performance against Tennessee last year (seven tackles, one TFL) but it was far from what he’s capable of. Be sure to keep watch on this powerful LB when the Vols are on offense.

Sep 10, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Jordan Sherit (17) sacks Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Drew Barker (7) during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Sherit

Defensive Lineman, Junior

As previously stated, we were going to talk more about Tennessee’s atrocious offensive line play being taken advantage of by Florida. The one constant that may ruin Tennessee’s chances of finally breaking the Tennessee vs Florida losing streak is Gator defensive end Jordan Sherit putting pressure on Josh Dobbs all game long.

Honestly, it may be more appropriate to put all of Florida’s defensive line two-deep as something to watch for—but since we are focusing on individual players here—Sherit is the most appropriate pass-rusher to pay attention to.

Sherit is one of the most crucial members of a Florida pass rush that currently leads the nation in sacks at 16. He also could be in the midst of a breakout season after showing flashes of his talent his sophomore year in 2015.

If Vols OT Chance Hall is unable to play Saturday or his limited in how often he sees the field, Tennessee may have no choice but to put Coleman Thomas at tackle for most of the game. If that happens, it could be the decisive advantage for the Gators.

Sherit is a lean and fast pass-rusher and may leave Thomas in the dust several times during the game, forcing Dobbs out of the pocket and disrupting the Vols passing attack.

Like most games in the Tennessee vs Florida series, it will likely be decided at the line of scrimmage. If the Vols offensive line plays like they have most of the season so far, Sherit may have an MVP-type outing.

Sep 3, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Austin Appleby (12) warms up before a football game against the Massachusetts Minutemen at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Austin Appleby

Quarterback, Senior

This isn’t the opposing quarterback that Tennessee was expecting to gameplan for a week ago, but it’s the one they’ve got now.

Purdue graduate transfer Austin Appleby has been thrust into the Gators’ starting quarterback spot after Luke Del Rio suffered a sprained left knee due to a late hit by a North Texas defender last Saturday.

Appleby will be making his first ever SEC start. What better place than for him to do so than in a sold out Neyland Stadium?

You would think the rabid crowd of 102,455 at General Neyland’s house would intimidate Appleby. Not so fast my friend.

Noting that he played at Nebraska, Ohio State, and Michigan State, Appleby had this to say about going to Knoxville:

“All stadiums are the same.”

Oh goodness.

So it’s safe to say that Tennessee fans, especially those in attendance, will be keeping their eyes (and voices) on Appleby throughout the game.

While Appleby’s stats at Purdue are less than stellar (2-9 as a starter; 19 TDs, 19 INTs, 2,777 yards passing), Tennessee has to throw all of that out the window now.

Why?

Because the Tennessee vs Florida rivalry has never been one to take statistics into consideration. Strange things have happened in this match-up for nearly 30 years. One of those strange occurrences has been Tennessee’s awful luck with Florida back-up quarterbacks during this losing streak (Tyler Murphy, Treon Harris, Tim Tebow in 2006).

While it’s to the Vols’ advantage that they have time to prepare for Appleby, don’t forget that McElwain is an offensive mastermind and will give Appleby better guidance than what he had at Purdue.

There are a lot of unknowns surrounding Appleby and that makes it even more intriguing to watch out for him.

Jan 1, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Florida Gators wide receiver Antonio Callaway (81) catches a punt against Michigan Wolverines in the 2016 Citrus Bowl at Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Antonio Callaway

Wide Receiver, Sophomore

Vol fans may want to look away from this page, and it would be completely understandable if you did.

Gators wide receiver Antonio Callaway is the man responsible for what was probably the most heart-breaking moment in a rivalry that has been based of the heartbreak of Tennessee fans for over the last decade. He scored last year’s game-winning 63-yard touchdown reception on 4th-and-14 with 1:26 left in the fourth quarter.

For Vols fans, that is probably the lowest point of the Tennessee vs Florida series.

So he’s obviously an offensive weapon for the Gators that Vol fans should be on the lookout for this Saturday.

That’s not only because of what he did to Tennessee last season or because he is one of the most talented wide-outs in the country and the Gators’ punt returner. It’s also because his status for the game is questionable. The Gators listed him as a starter, but he is recovering from a quad injury.

Watching Callaway this Saturday will be intriguing because his presence on the field will heavily impact the game’s outcome.

Callaway is the No. 1 target and deep threat for the Gators offense. He is a threat to make a huge, momentum-shifting play at any moment. That is enough to make a defense respect that the whole game.

If Callaway is limited, then Tennessee defensive coordinator Bob Shoop will be able to bring more pressure towards Appleby. If Callaway is good to go, the Vols may feel the loss of cornerback Cam Sutton in the worst way. He could shred the UT secondary.

Sep 17, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive back Teez Tabor (31) during the second quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Jalen Tabor

Cornerback, Junior

He is unquestionably the best player on the Florida Gators roster. So we had to place Jalen “Teez” Tabor as the number one Florida player to watch for this weekend.

If you’re a Vol fan and are unaware of the near continuous cycle of trash talk that Tabor has hurled in Tennessee’s direction since this offseason then you must live under a rock without a reliable wi-fi signal.

You can view the many comments Tabor has had regarding the Vols here, here, here and here.

Why has Tabor been talking so much? The obvious answer is that Florida players can say whatever they please since they’re on the team with the 11-game winning streak in the Tennessee vs Florida series.

But Tabor also talks because he can back up his words with his actions on the field.

Tabor is the top shutdown cornerback in America and will likely be a Top 10 2017 NFL Draft pick. His career numbers show why.

He emerged onto the scene as a dominant player during his sophomore campaign. Now with the departure of Vernon Hargreaves, Tabor is without a doubt the best player in the Florida secondary. And that secondary may very well be the best in the country.

Let’s say that Tennessee’s pass protection actually holds up against he aforementioned Florida pass rush. When Dobbs does decide to air it out, he will be throwing into a dangerous group of pass defenders. Tabor will be leading that group. And with the impressive play of Vols receiver Josh Malone so far, expect those two to go one-on-one.

If the Vols best receiving option is shut down, Tennessee’s passing game could follow suit.

And if Dobbs still decides to throw in Tabor’s direction, the results could be disastrous for Tennessee’s momentum.

Tabor could completely shut out the Tennessee passing attack. This combined with bragging rights off the field makes him the most important Gator to watch this Saturday.