Former Tennessee offensive lineman Addison Nichols and defensive back Doneiko Slaughter will suit up as captains for Arkansas as they take on their former team under the lights in Fayetteville on Saturday.
Nichols, the starting center for the Razorbacks, served in a reserve role at Tennessee last season where he appeared in all 11 games but took each of his 49 snaps at left guard.
Slaughter, who has manned the nickel position at Arkansas, racked up 32 tackles for the Volunteers last season, including a career-best 11 stops against Georgia.
It has been a rollercoaster season for the duo so far — with Nichols battling an ankle injury and issues with snap accuracy, while Slaughter has overcome a rough start with a pair of solid outings to open SEC plays. Arkansas will need the best from both to pull off an upset Saturday.
“With Nichols coming in here and starting, he’s been really good for us,” said head coach Sam Pittman. “With Nico, he’s played really, really good ball for us. Those two guys coming from Tennessee have helped our program.”
While it stands to reason both Nichols and Slaughter will have heightened emotions and some added motivation lining up across, rather than alongside, their former teammates, Pittman believes that impact is felt more in preparation and less once the pads start popping on game day.
“I think there’s something to that,” Pittman says. “It lasts about 4-5 plays, and then you get hit in the head, somebody cuts you, somebody knocks the hell out of you, and at that point it’s about preparation and what you’re made of in the heart.
“Whenever you’re wanting to do something so bad, I don’t know the feeling you have right before the game will help you play better, but I know that feeling will help you prepare.”
Arkansas (3-2, 1-1 SEC) and No. 4 Tennessee (4-0, 1-0 SEC) are set for a 6:30 p.m. (CT) kickoff at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Saturday. The game will be televised on ABC.
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