The Tennessee football team is taking the “next man up” approach as they prepare for No. 19 Missouri this weekend without one of its most recognized faces on the defensive side of the ball.
With the Vols looking to reach bowl eligibility for the first time since 2010, the team did not let the absence of senior starting middle linebacker A.J. Johnson hinder their indoor practice on Tuesday’s cold November evening.
“With the way our defense is set up, it’s the next man up,” senior defensive tackle Jordan Williams said. “We have to unite together and stay focused. We had a great practice and are moving forward and playing football.”
Filling the void at the spot vacated by the SEC’s second-leading tackler will be three underclassmen in Jakob Johnson, Cortez McDowell and Kenny Bynum.
The trio of underclassmen has combined for 22 tackles, compared to Johnson’s 101.
“You just don’t replace his (A.J’s) production,” head coach Butch Jones said. “Everyone around our football team has to step up and do their job and not do anymore than what’s required of them. They’ll step up.”
Sophomore weakside linebacker Jalen-Reeves Maybin is expected to take over the vocal role that would usually fall to Johnson.
Maybin has recorded double-digit tackles in two games this season and has averaged 8.5 tackles per SEC contest.
“We will rely on Jalen-Reeves Maybin a little bit more,” Jones said. “He has experience at the second level of our defense.”
Tennessee will also look at one more individual on defense to step up for a missing regular in the starting lineup.
For the first half of the game, the UT secondary will be without Brian Randolph, who was ejected during the second half of the Kentucky game for targeting.
Freshman safety Todd Kelly Jr. filled in after Randolph’s departure and has earned confidence from his teammates and coaches over the course of the season.
“He came in and did a great job after Randolph left,” Jones said. “T.K. is a very smart individual. He puts his work in and does his due diligence. I don’t think communication will be a problem, and I expect him to step up and do well.”
Barnett wreaks havoc: Freshman defensive end Derek Barnett already broke Jadeveon Clowney’s SEC freshman record for most sacks in a season and will look to add on to his total of nine this Saturday.
While he is the first true freshman ever to start a season-opener at defensive end in program history, he is not shocked at the results he has had on the gridiron. For SEC defensive linemen, he ranks third with 56 tackles, tied for first in tackles for loss (18.0), and third in sacks (9).
“The numbers don’t really surprise me,” Barnett said. “I’m confident in my talents. God gave me a bunch of talents, and I just try to use them in the right way to help this team and program out. My teammates are holding me accountable, so I have to do my job.”
Barnett along with the rest of the Tennessee defensive line, which has totaled 29 sacks this season, will go head-to-head with a Tigers offensive line that has only given up 15 sacks on the season.
The Vols have already surpassed their season totals in sacks for each of the past six seasons.
“It’s all about coming in the game with the right mentality and not giving up on plays,” Barnett said. “We’ve missed a bunch of sacks, but we’ve done a good job giving it that extra push. We feel like we can go head-to-head with anybody in the country.
Williams remembers: Williams came into Tennessee in 2011 as an undersized 6-foot-4, 240-pound defensive end. However, in midst of his best season yet as a Vol he is now contributing often at the defensive tackle position.
“I’m very proud of him,” Jones said. “He’s grown into a team leader and our players have respected him. He’s been a great resource for these young players and mentoring them everyday.”
Williams is encouraged to fulfill a goal that has never been reached in his career: to reach a bowl game.
“I thought about it last week when the game ended that this week was going to be my last week running off the field,” Williams said. “It’s another opportunity to play football. I’ve really appreciated the fans the last four years and Tennessee football. It’s going to be a fun game.”
