The Oregon Ducks were crowned Big Ten Conference Champions on Saturday night and were awarded the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff on Sunday morning. With the top seed, Oregon will receive a first-round bye in the playoff, watching from home as both the Ohio State Buckeyes and Tennessee Volunteers fight for a chance to meet the Ducks in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.
While the Ducks have already played Ohio State this year, it’s been over a decade since they saw the Volunteers on the field. At this point in the year, the Buckeyes also have a different roster and outlook than they did in their Week 7 trip to Eugene.
While Oregon enjoys the next three weeks off, we felt it would be a good time to examine the potential opponents and learn what the Ducks could face. We continue with the Tennessee defense.
Defensive Line
Bryson Eason: 24 tackles, 7 for loss, 1.5 sacks, 5 QB hurries
Omari Thomas: 21 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack, 3 QB hurries
James Pearce, Jr.: 35 tackles, 11 for loss, 7.5 sacks, 10 QB hurries (1st team)
Dominic Bailey: 24 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 2 sacks, 4 QB hurries
With Tennessee’s offense being so prolific, the defense gets a bit overlooked, but it’s one of the top defenses in the country, led by SEC first-teamer and defensive lineman James Pearce, Jr. At 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds, Pearce could be a first-round NFL draft pick if he decides to leave the Vols early. He’s one of those edge rushers that an offensive line has to keep tabs on the entire time.
Eason and Thomas are a combined 635 pounds in the middle of that line and Bailey is a robust 292 pounds himself. When you imagine an SEC defensive line, Tennessee fits the bill and is a handful for any opponent.
The Vols are able to get pressure on the quarterback without blitzing, which makes it tough to move the ball on this defense with every level able to stay home.
Linebackers
Arion Carter: 65 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3 QB hurries, 5 pass breakups, 1 INT
Jeremiah Telander: 33 tackles, 1.5 for loss, 0.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles
Tennessee plays a 4-2-5 defense most of the time and the two linebackers are big and athletic that can come up to stop the run and go back into pass coverage with equal ability and success.
Carter leads the Vols with those 65 tackles. As his stats show, he’s able to pull double duty in stopping the run and the pass. He’s also just a sophomore and has one more year to terrorize SEC offenses.
Telander is another sophomore who has made the most out his opportunity as a starter this season. He was a four-star recruit out of Georgia and Telander has looked every bit the part this season.
Secondary
Rickey Gibson III: 29 tackles, 2 for loss, 5 pass breakups
Andre Turrentine: 35 tackles, 1.5 for loss, 3 pass breakups
Jermod McCoy: 39 tackles, 4 INT, 9 pass breakups (2nd team)
Boo Carter: 35 tackles, 3 for loss, 3 QB hurries
Will Brooks: 54 tackles, 3 INT, 5 pass breakups
McCoy is yet another sophomore on this defense that leads the team with four picks, including one against Alabama. He was selected to the All-SEC Second Team with his interceptions and nine pass breakups. McCoy also doubles as a kick returner.
Brooks is the heart of the secondary as a fifth-year senior. He started out at Tennessee as a walk-on in his freshman season and has worked himself up the ranks to become one of the top safeties in the SEC.
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