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Five Tennessee Volunteers to watch against the Gators

Untitled_design__8_-removebg-previewby:Pat O'Donnell•09/21/22•

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The No. 20 Florida Gators (2-1, 0-1) are set to take on the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers (3-0, 0-0) on Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium.

For the first time since 2017, both teams are ranked in the top 25 for this chapter of the storied SEC rivalry.

This time around, the Volunteers are 10.5-point favorites against the Gators.

Here are five players who can and likely will have a major impact on Saturday’s game:

Quarterback Hendon Hooker

2022 stats: 59-85 (69.4%), 844 passing yards, 6 passing touchdowns, 22 rushing attempts, 63 yards, 2 rushing touchdowns

Since being dominated at Florida in 2021, Hooker has become the quarterback Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel needs and more. He’s accurate all over the field. More importantly, he’s accurate with his deep ball. Tennessee has no problem challenging the Florida secondary on Saturday and will do so at least a handful of times. Hooker has also established his ability to run the football. The Florida defensive line will be challenged to keep him from escaping the pocket but also hindering his ability to make a big throw with consistent pressure.

Running back Jaylen Wright

2022 stats: 45 carries, 231 yards (5.1 yards per carry), 3 rushing touchdowns

The Volunteers will have a flurry of ball carriers on Saturday, but Wright is the one to watch as their workhorse thus far. The Florida run defense is giving up nearly 200 rushing yards per game, and that can be a problem against a team with a passing attack like Tennessee. The Gators defense will have to slow the Volunteers rushing attack in order to keep Tennessee’s offense one dimensional. 

Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt

2022 stats: 18 receptions, 267 yards (14.8 yards per reception), 3 touchdowns

With fellow Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman being questionable for Saturday’s game with a lower body injury, more weight is added to Hyatt’s shoulders. Already leading the team in receptions, Hyatt is already Hooker’s top target and will be again on Saturday. Hyatt is often a target for the deep shot for Tennessee, and he will test the Florida secondary led by cornerback Jason Marshall Jr.

Wide receiver Bru McCoy

2022 stats: 8 receptions, 104 yards (13.6 yards per reception), 1 touchdown

Many know him for his wild recruitment with Texas and USC, but now he’s known for 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame with Tennessee. Again, Tillman is questionable for Saturday’s game, and McCoy can provide a big body in his place or alongside him. Hooker will certainly look to throw the ball to McCoy for his jump ball ability. It will be interesting to see how the Florida secondary is able to handle such a receiver in a big game like this one.

Safety Trevon Flowers

2022 stats: 16 total tackles, 1 sack for 12 yard loss, 1 interception

A guy who has been all over the place for the Volunteers defense so far this season is Flowers. It will be up to him to keep Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson from reaching the end zone for the first time this season through the air. Flowers can do so by providing added pressure from the outside and being stout in coverage. Regardless of what the Florida offense chooses to run offensively, Richardson and his unit will have to make sure where Flowers is before each snap.

Stay tuned to Gators Online.

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