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Tennessee’s defense focused on stopping Virginia Tech QB Jerod Evans
By Jason Hall
Published:
Tennessee’s defense isn’t taking Virginia Tech quarterback Jerod Evans lightly heading into the Battle at Bristol Saturday. Evans threw for 221 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for 46 yards on five attempts during his FBS debut against Liberty in Week 1.
Several Tennessee players told Wes Rucker of GoVols247 that the quarterback has their attention and will be their main focus in attempting to stop Virginia Tech’s offense.
“Their quarterback, he’s an athlete,” sophomore safety Micah Abernathy said. “The comparison that we have is Cam Newton, and he likes to compare himself to him.”
That’s high praise for a player who’s only made one FBS start against an FCS team, however numbers don’t lie. The 6-foot-4, 238-pound quarterback threw for 3,164 yards, 38 touchdowns and three interceptions in just eight games in 2015. Evans also had 414 yards and four touchdowns on 77 rushing attempts.
“Every time you play a mobile quarterback or a quarterback with athleticism like his, you always want to work to contain him but yet still play the game and be able to rush the edges and get upfield,” senior defensive end LaTroy Lewis said. “The plan is contain him but also to get after him at the same time.”
“He’s a baller,” sophomore middle linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. added. “He really does a great job of getting to his receivers downfield. He also has some savviness in the run game — the quarterback run game, quarterback power type deal. I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen on film so far.”
Tennessee has limited game film given that Evans’ has only played in one game for Virginia Tech. However, the team has studied videos of his JUCO career, Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente’s previous offenses and even plays the Carolina Panthers run with Newton to simulate how Evans will be used.
“It’s a challenge,” Abernathy said. “We only have one game (of Evans facing) DI talent, but we’ve got to take his tendencies from that game. Our coaches know what type of player he is and his tendencies and things like that and tell us throughout the week.”
Jason covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
