Tennessee football is looking to bounce back from its heartbreaking SEC opening loss against Georgia last week when they host UAB at Neyland Stadium. It’s a tune up non conference matchup for the Vols before they play five straight SEC games.
The Vols are over five-touchdown favorites against UAB and should get a lot of younger players snaps in this game. Here’s four younger players to watch in the non conference matchup.
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WR Travis Smith Jr.
Tennessee’s trio of backup receivers are all true freshmen— Travis Smith Jr, Radarious Jackson and Joakim Dotson. Jackson suffered an injury a week ago against Georgia and is out for the UAB game. That will give Smith the opportunity to play an abundance of snaps in this game.
The four-star freshman caught two passes for 20 yards against ETSU and could get even more targets in this game. Tennessee is thin at receiver and if one of its top pass catchers goes down, one of the freshmen will have to step up. This is a good chance for Smith to show of his capabilities and build momentum if he’s called upon later in the season.
TE DaSaahn Brame
There was an abundance of hype around DaSaahn Brame this preseason with the blue-chip freshman making a number of plays in preseason practice and scrimmages.
Brame has played little to this point in the season which isn’t shocking because veterans Miles Kitselman and Ethan Davis are healthy and playing an abundance of snaps. Freshman Jack Van Dorselaer has played more than Brame which makes sense because he’s more of a sound blocker while Brame is a receiving threat.
Both should get an abundance of run against UAB and I’m excited to see if Brame makes any plays in the non conference matchup.
CB Ty Redmond
Ty Redmond is in a different spot than anyone else on this list. He’s a true freshman like the other three players but he’s starting for Tennessee due Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson’s injuries.
Last week was not a good week for Redmond as Georgia attacked the true freshman early and often and had success doing so. Cornerback is a position that’s all about confidence. For the time being, Tennessee is going to have to lean on Redmond.
Redmond needs to put his struggles from last week behind him and to go out and play confident against UAB. If he struggles again and his confidence is shaken, that would mean trouble for Tennessee with a matchup against Mississippi State looming.
DT Ethan Utley
The freshman defensive tackle is in the two-deep with veterans Jaxson Moi and Daevin Hobbs sidelined at this point in the season. Tennessee hopes that they’ll lean on Utley less as those two get back on the field.
But injuries happen at defensive tackle and Tennessee needs Utley to keep getting better. If the four-star freshman can be a reliable contributor for even 15 snaps a game down the stretch of the season, it would be a big win. I want to see Utley play well and make some plays against the Blazers.
