Tennessee Football: 5 Players Volunteers Will Rely on Most vs. Alabama

In order for the Tennessee football team to finally force the big crimson elephant in the room into the loser's column, the Volunteers are going to have to get some monumental individual efforts.

You can't just beat Bama with a pedestrian performance, and after eight consecutive losses to the rival, it's going to take some playmakers emerging with games that will be remembered in the UT record books. That's just the way it goes when you've got a program as sturdy as coach Nick Saban's.

Even so, there doesn't seem to be any fear on Tennessee's sideline.

"Is it going to be a great challenge?” Tennessee coach Butch Jones told ESPN.com's Alex Scarborough. "Yes, but it's all about being elite. We are working to be an elite football program. … Everything goes into that term 'elite.' Obviously, Alabama is elite, but I know our players are excited and looking forward to a great challenge and opportunity."

The Vols need to take advantage of the decisive edge they have on special teams, meaning Evan Berry, Cameron Sutton or Alvin Kamara needs a huge return (or more) to steal points. 

UT needs to be efficient on offense, keep the ball away from Alabama and sustain drives. Tennessee also has to be opportunistic on defense and force the Crimson Tide into mistakes the way Ole Miss did.

But several players need all-world efforts, too. Let's take a look at who must emerge with some of the biggest games of their lives in order for Tennessee to beat Alabama for the first time since 2006.

Joshua Dobbs, Quarterback

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Without question, the X-factor in beating Alabama is quarterback Joshua Dobbs.

The 6'3", 207-pound dual-threat junior signal-caller is no stranger to success against the Crimson Tide. He entered in a hopeless blowout last year and led Tennessee back to respectability against UA. He finished with 192 passing yards and two touchdowns and added 75 more rushing yards.

The Tide defense had no answer for the astro man as he helped skyrocket UT's season from the doldrums. The Vols may not have gained a victory over Alabama, but they gained the confidence they needed to make and win a bowl game.

This season, UA's defense will have plenty of time to prepare for Dobbs. He won't catch anybody by surprise this time, and whether or not he can post the same kind of numbers will go a long way in determining whether Tennessee can win.

Against Georgia, Dobbs was amazing, willing the Vols to the win with his arm and his feet. When UT absolutely had to have first downs, it more often than not turned to Dobbs. He provided often.

Even against Florida, he led UT in rushing, receiving and passing. 

Sure, Dobbs' limitations in the passing game have hindered his team at times, but his skills are exceptional when he's on.

Can he pass enough to beat Bama? Can he gain the edges and turn upfield for gains on the ground? Can he elude pressure, extend plays and find receivers?

As with every quarterback, nearly every play will be in his hands. He'll have to play the best game of his career against the best defense he has played as a starter in order for Tennessee to win.

Jalen Hurd, Running Back

Wade Payne/Associated Press

This is the kind of game where Jalen Hurd has grown to excel.

At 6'4", 240 pounds, the sophomore runner from Hendersonville, Tennessee, is the drive-sustaining force who also possesses good enough speed to get the ball to the outside and make big gains on the perimeter.

Against Alabama's front seven, every single yard is going to be tough to come by. That's why having a brawny, rugged running back with the size and toughness of Hurd is crucial.

Opponents are averaging fewer than 71 rushing yards per game and just an eyelash over 2.4 yards per carry, which are tops in the conference. Not only do they spit out NFL defensive linemen like an assembly line, they've also got one of the best run-stuffing linebackers in the country in Reggie Ragland.

While the name of UT's game will be trying to get to the edges, the Vols have to maintain a presence between the tackles. That's where Hurd thrives, and that's where they'll need him Saturday.

He has dealt with flu-like symptoms for some of the week, so it's unclear whether he'll be at full strength. But this is a huge opportunity for Hurd to make a name for himself on the national stage.

Though Leonard Fournette, Nick Chubb and Derrick Henry get most of the national headlines, Hurd will have the opportunity to shine against a runner who is almost his clone. Henry is nearly the same size and stature, and they both have uncanny speed for runners their size. Henry is coming off a career game against Texas A&M.

Having Hurd not only is good for UT's offense, it's been a benefit for the Vols defense, too, in preparing for Henry.

"We’ve just got to know he’s a stronger runner, just like Jalen (Hurd)," Vols linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin told the Tennessean's Matt Slovin. "We tackle Jalen all year."

And it isn't easy. Maybe Alabama will have a tough time, too.

Derek Barnett, Defensive End

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

A glance at Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett's season stats doesn't tell the whole story.

He's third on the team with 32 tackles, second with 3.5 tackles for a loss, tied for second with two sacks and second with four quarterback hurries. That's a strong year, right?

Well, compared to his freshman All-American year, the numbers are pedestrian. With the loss of Curt Maggitt for likely the season, the lack of any significant pass rush other than him and all the issues UT has experienced with developing a solid defensive tackle rotation, Barnett sees added attention.

He hasn't completely adjusted, and his numbers have hurt because of it.

The Vols need Barnett to return to his all-conference form against the Tide. Getting pressure on Jake Coker is going to be essential into forcing him into mistakes. 

Alabama's senior quarterback is prone to interceptions and has to be managed at times by coach Nick Saban and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin. He's been far from a liability this year, but you can harass him into blunders, and the Vols must get some of those takeaways to win.

Barnett and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin are the biggest havoc-wreakers on the defense. They've got to get in the backfield—past that strong Bama offensive line—and make madness behind the line of scrimmage.

If they can do that consistently, it will keep the Vols in it.

Darrin Kirkland Jr., Middle Linebacker

Wade Payne/Associated Press

Reeves-Maybin may be the superstar, but Darrin Kirkland Jr. is the biggest defensive key in this game for Tennessee.

The 6'1", 224-pound true freshman middle linebacker is the no-doubt starter now after beating out Colton Jumper in the early season. While his 22 tackles definitely need to improve, Kirkland does have a pair of sacks and shows glimpses of the special talent he can be.

It's the things you can't see where he must improve.

Lining up players pre-snap is an essential trait for a middle linebacker, and if Kirkland fails at that, a team like Alabama and a running back like Henry will exploit that. Also, gap control is so vital in a game like this, and if Kirkland's run fits are poor, gash plays can kill the Vols.

Also, Kirkland has to be a more consistent tackler and finish more plays around the football. Against Arkansas two games ago, UT struggled in tackling, and it cost it a win.

"It really wasn't to our standard as 'Orange Swarm' defense," Kirkland Jr. told the Associated Press' Steve Megargee (via USA Today). "We have to put our identity on film and have a good week."

They did against Georgia, and Kirkland was a big part of that, especially in the second half when Sony Michel couldn't find running room.

It isn't really fair to ask a freshman to play middle linebacker in the SEC, especially against a team of Alabama's caliber, but that's just where Tennessee currently is at this point of coach Butch Jones' program.

Kirkland has to play, and he must play extremely well for the Vols. The bye week came at a great time to get Kirkland and his inexperienced classmates some more practice reps, and now the biggest test of the season looms.

Brian Randolph, Safety

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

Tennessee senior safety Brian Randolph has been a Vols leader and a stalwart in the starting lineup for the extent of his five-year UT career—as long as he has been healthy.

He's currently second on the team in tackles, and he made, without question, the play of the year on the final play of the game against Georgia when he stepped in front of Malcolm Mitchell and swatted away a would-be game-tying touchdown pass after Cameron Sutton fell down.

But Randolph hasn't had his best year. He struggles tackling in the open field, hasn't taken the best angles and has been late to help over the top.

Those habits need to be things of the past against the Tide. With star freshman receiver Calvin Ridley sprinting for the pylons on fly patterns, it isn't the best thing for the Vols to leave their cornerbacks on islands. Randolph (as well as LaDarrell McNeil and Todd Kelly Jr.) must help.

It would be nice if they came up with some huge turnovers in the process.

Randolph's career highlight had to be the game-ender against Georgia that helped his team upset his home-state Bulldogs for the first time in his career. The only way to one-up that is for him to do something that led to the Vols winning a program-changing battle against Alabama.

There's no doubt that coming out victorious against the Crimson Tide would make this season a roaring success, silence all Jones' critics and make fans forget about three double-digit fiascoes early in the year.

All stats gathered from CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Brad Shepard covers SEC football and is the Tennessee lead writer for Bleacher Report. Follow Brad on Twitter @Brad_Shepard.