Josh Heupel shares challenge of mobile quarterback in Jayden Daniels

No. 8 Tennessee will take on a ranked opponent for the third time this season and for the second game in a row, traveling to No. 25 LSU on Saturday. A similar challenge as the one the Volunteers handled just before their bye week will present itself in the form of mobile quarterback Jayden Daniels.

The Volunteers, of course, are coming off a win over the rival Florida Gators in which they managed to slow down dual-threat quarterback Anthony Richardson enough to secure a 38-33 win. Coach Josh Heupel said there are definitely some things his guys can take from that performance when it comes to defending a mobile quarterback.

“For sure. There’s areas that we’ve got to grow that will show up again in this game,” Heupel said. “For us defensively eyes, keys as tight ends are exiting the formation, that’ll be critical in this football game. The quarterback run absolutely is a huge part of the football game.”

Richardson did have some success on the ground, but the Volunteers really made him earn it.

The talented quarterback ran for two touchdowns and 62 yards, but he needed 17 carries to do so, averaging just 3.6 yards per attempt. It was enough for Tennessee to come out on top.

Mobile quarterback Jayden Daniels will stress Vols

Heupel pointed to two primary areas his Volunteers need to focus on when it comes to mobile quarterback Jayden Daniels.

“That can be in some read game but also just as the pocket breaks down or he goes through his progression,” Heupel said.

It won’t be the exact same look as the one Tennessee managed pretty well against Ricardson. For one, Richardson is 6 foot 4, 232 pounds. Daniels checks in at a listed at 6 foot 3, 200 pounds.

But Daniels is perfectly capable of hurting you with his legs. He’s run for 321 yards and three touchdowns so far this season for the Tigers.

“His ability to escape, the way they finish runs is probably a little bit different just in their style, but absolutely the mobility of the quarterback is a huge part of us having to defend that in this football game,” Heupel said.

Tennessee and LSU will kick off Saturday at noon ET in a game in Baton Rouge, La., broadcast on ESPN.