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The Tennessee Volunteers (2-2) host the Florida Gators (2-1) in their annual SEC East matchup Saturday at Neyland Stadium. The Vols are coming off a 35-32 heartbreaker to Georgia in Week 5. The Gators look to follow their bye week by adding to an annual winning streak that began in 2004.
Here are five Florida players every Tennessee fan should know entering Saturday’s matchup.
1. Vernon Hargreaves III, CB: Vernon Hargreaves III is the most talented player on Florida’s roster. Hargreaves was selected to the 2014 preseason All-SEC First Team by media members after a stellar freshman All-American season. He will matchup against Marquez North, who has struggled to see many targets facing double team coverage in Von Pearson’s absence.
2. Dante Fowler, DE: Dante Fowler leads Florida with 3.0 tackles for loss and is averaging one per game. Fowler is quick off the edge and has natural strength. Facing a struggling Tennessee offensive line, Fowler will likely bring consistent pressure to quarterback Justin Worley in the pocket.
3. Matt Jones, RB: Matt Jones leads Florida with 258 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 49 attempts. He is averaging 86 yards per game, seeing the majority of shared carries with sophomore Kelvin Taylor. Jones will face a talented Tennessee front seven led by linebackers A.J. Johnson and Jalen Reeves-Maybin, both of whom are coming off double-digit tackle performances.
4. Demarcus Robinson, WR: Demarcus Robinson currently leads Florida in every major receiving category for receivers with multiple catches. Robinson has 353 yards and three touchdowns on 23 receptions and is averaging 117.7 yards per game, 15.35 yards per catch and 7.7 catches per game.
5. Jeff Driskel: For better or worse, Jeff Driskel is Florida’s most important player on Saturday. If he succeeds, the Gators have an offense capable of beating Tennessee on the road. However, if Driskel has another performance like his Week 4 debacle against Alabama, the improved Vols defense will make him look like the scapegoat in the Gators’ first loss to Tennessee in a decade.
A former freelance journalist from Nashville, Jason covers Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky
