Linebackers
Nathanael: A
The Vols’ defensive line made it possible for UT’s linebackers to have yet another phenomenal day on the field. Daniel Bituli was all over the field once again, totaling a game-high 12 stops and getting a key sack. Henry To’o To’o may only have been credited with five tackles, but he played exceptionally well. He played better in pass coverage than he has most of this season, and he picked up half a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. Darrell Taylor was stymied for most of the night, but he still got credited with a quarterback hurry, as did Kivon Bennett. The only big negative I can think of was the failure to recognize Tyler Badie coming out of the backfield on the trick play in the second half that resulted in an easy touchdown, but that was more on Missouri making a great play call and executing it well than poor defensive play by UT.
Ben: A
Henry To’o To’o and Daniel Bituli once again played great football. Bituli had a team-high 12 tackles, a sack, and a tackle for a loss, while To’oto’o had five tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss. To’o To’o even got credit for half a sack along with Alontae Taylor. Darrell Taylor chipped in a quarterback hurry.
