PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Jake Bentley returned to action against Texas A&M in South Carolina’s last outing after sitting out the Missouri game with a knee injury and was 17-of-35 passing for 223 yards and three touchdowns. He looks good to go against a Tennessee defense that has allowed an average of 223 yards a game to opposing passers.
–WR Deebo Samuel is South Carolina’s big-play guy. He leads the Gamecocks in receiving with 382 yards on 33 receptions and also rushed four times for 13 yards. He is a major threat in the return game with eight kickoff returns for 165 yards. Earlier this season he attempted his second pass and the result was just like the only other one of his career, going for a touchdown in the loss to Georgia.
–LB T.J. Brunson, who was second on the team in tackles with 88 a year ago, currently leads the Gamecocks in tackles with 35. Of those, 26 have been a team-best solo efforts. Coach Will Muschamp had praise for the play of both Brunson and LB Sherrod Greene against Texas A&M. “I thought that was their best game,” Muschamp said. “Very productive, very active, tackled well, leveraged the ball well, didn’t misfit some runs.”
–CB Rashad Fenton is the leader in the secondary. He has three of South Carolina’s five interceptions, giving the senior five for his career. He also has broken up two other passes to go with his 16 tackles (14 solo).
SERIES HISTORY: Tennessee leads the series with South Carolina 25-9-2. South Carolina won the last meeting 15-9 in 2017.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “He is one of three players in school history that has been voted a team captain in his true sophomore year. That says a lot about the respect D.J. has in the locker room and the type of young man he is.” — Coach Will Muschamp, on LB D.J. Wonnum, who will return this week for his first outing since being injured in the opener.
