When Oregon plays Tennessee on Saturday, the Ducks face their toughest test of the season so far: an undefeated SEC team, one that’s storied history trumps that of most other schools in the country. And although the Volunteers have been mired by mediocrity in recent years, their crop of southern talent always has the ability to win any given football game.
Most talented among this year’s Vols is linebacker A.J. Johnson. The junior led the SEC in total tackles last season with 138 and was top on his team with 8.5 tackles for loss. Nicknamed “The Beast” by his teammates, Johnson was named to just about every preseason All-American and All-Conference team as well as numerous watch lists.
“[Johnson] is a great sideline to sideline guy, really good cover guy. Gets his hands on receivers and makes a ton of plays everywhere.” said Oregon coach Mark Helfrich of Tennessee’s middle linebacker.
The Gainsville, Ga. native stands at 6-feet-2-inches and 243 pounds and ran a 40-yard dash in as low as 4.62 seconds, according to nfldraftscout.com, which ranks him as the top inside linebacker prospect in college. Johnson’s unique combination of size and speed obviously creates problems for opposing offenses, but that’s not the only threat Johnson poses.
Johnson carried the ball 12 times last season and scored a team-high six rushing touchdowns. Tennessee used Johnson in a wildcat formation fittingly called “The Beast,” allowing Johnson to plow the ball into the end zone in goal-to-go situations. He’s yet to get a carry this year, and he may not under new head coach Butch Jones, but the possibility alone causes defenses to have to prepare and mix up their packages.
“Have not yet,” said defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti when asked whether he’s seen Tennessee use the wildcat this season. “They’ve pretty much been a one back team and run spread offense like our guys.”
Johnson and the Vols won their first two games against Austin Peay and Western Kentucky and now enter the meat of their schedule. Five of their next six opponents are ranked in the top 25, three of which are in the top 10. If anyone can lead the Volunteers back to national title contention, it’s Jones, who led Cincinnati to shares of the Big East championship each of the last two seasons.