Tennessee will be facing one of the better passing attacks they’ve faced all season when the Missouri Tigers (6-4, 2-4 SEC) come into Neyland Stadium on Saturday. And the Vols should have two of their younger but more effective defensive backs ready to go against the Tigers.
Jeremy Pruitt met with the media on Monday for his weekly press conference, and he had some positive news on a pair of freshmen secondary players.
Pruitt stated that freshman cornerback Bryce Thompson “got his bell rung” against Kentucky on Saturday but added that he saw him earlier on Monday and he “seemed fine.” Thompson jumped up to try and make an interception in the end zone in the second half against Kentucky, and he landed hard on the field and was slow to get up. He didn’t return to the game, but Pruitt said the young defensive back will be going through all the proper tests and procedures this week.
Another freshman defensive back, safety Trevon Flowers, has missed over a month of play as he’s been recovering from a broken collarbone he suffered at practice during Tennessee’s bye week. But according to Pruitt, Flowers could be back for Saturday’s game against Missouri.
Last week, Pruitt mentioned that Flowers was progressing and would be looked at before the Kentucky game. The freshman didn’t take the field against the Wildcats, but Pruit said on Monday that he “thinks Trevon should be back” at practice this week and likely could play against Missouri.
Flowers played in Tennessee’s first five games of the season and even got the start at safety against West Virginia in the season opener. But he hasn’t played since the Vols’ match-up with Georgia to end September.
Missouri’s offense ranks third in the SEC in passing yards per game, averaging 277.5 yards a game through the air. Starting quarterback Drew Lock has completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 2,647 yards, and 21 touchdowns, but he’s also thrown eight interceptions, and five of those have come in road games.
On the season, Bryce Thompson has 28 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack, three interceptions, six pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a quarterback hurry in 10 games. Thompson has started almost every game at cornerback this season for the Vols.
Flowers has totaled nine tackles and a pass defended in his five appearances this season.
