Four best defensive players Tennessee will face in 2015
- Wyeth Wilson
- May 9, 2015
- 2 min read
The SEC has left its mark on college football by two things: championships and defense.
The SEC is widely known to have some of the best defensive units and individuals in the nation, and Tennessee will face several of them this season.
Here are four of the best:
4. Kentrell Brothers, Missouri linebacker
Missouri’s star defensive linemen may be gone, but the Tigers do return a solid linebacker.
Brothers finished second the SEC in tackles last season with 117, including seven against Tennessee.
Brothers will be one of the many tests for Tennessee fragile offensive line when the Vols travel to Columbia on Nov. 21.
3. Reggie Ragland, Alabama linebacker
In a conference with a wealth of talent at linebacker, Ragland will be one of the best.
Ragland totaled 86 tackles last season as one of the Tide’s starting linebackers, and is considered a top NFL Draft prospect for next season.
On an Alabama defense that is stacked with NFL talent, Ragland might be the best.
2. Eric Striker, Oklahoma linebacker
The third-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12 linebacker gave Tennessee some major problems in last year’s game.
In a game where Oklahoma’s defensive front dominated Tennessee’s offensive line, Striker was seen in the Tennessee backfield countless times.
Striker finished with six tackles and three quarterback hurries in that game, and tallied 68 total tackles and nine sacks for the season.
Along with the rest of the Sooners’ defense (and offense), Striker will be an early test for Tennessee.
1. Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida cornerback
When Florida beat Tennessee for the tenth consecutive time last October, Hargreaves made a play that had a large impact on the outcome.
After Jalen Reeves-Maybin intercepted a pass on the first play of the second half for Tennessee, the Vols were in business at the Gator’s 13-yard line, and seemingly close to their first touchdown of the day.
But on the very next play, Hargreaves made an interception in the end zone to give the ball right back to Florida.
Hargreaves is considered a likely first round pick in next season’s NFL Draft, and by looking at his awards, it’s easy to see why.
He was selected as a first-team All-American by multiple publications last season, and was a unanimous first-team All-SEC selection.
Hargreaves will be one major reason why ending the losing streak to Florida won’t be easy.
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