PLAYERS TO WATCH
–RB Ty Chandler shook off a head injury that kept him out of Tennessee’s Week 2 contest to post a career-best 158-yard performance and his first touchdown of the year against UTEP. The sophomore picked up a bulk of those yards on an 81-yard scoring scamper, the Vols’ longest rushing play since LaMarcus Coker took a hand-off 87 yards against Vanderbilt in 2006.
–QB Jarrett Guarantano has yet to surpass his 172 passing yards in Week 1 versus West Virginia, but the redshirt sophomore has been protective with the ball, tossing no interceptions in 39 attempts. His 72.2 completion percentage ranks him second in the SEC behind Georgia’s Jake Fromm.
–CB Bryce Thompson is making an immediate impact in the secondary. The true freshman broke up his second pass of the year last week against UTEP and forced his first career fumble in the Vols’ win. In his first three games, Thompson has eight tackles, two for loss, as well as an interception.
–NT Emmit Gooden has four tackles for loss in the Vols’ first three games. The junior transfer from Independence (Kan.) Community College has helped add depth to the line while spelling starting nose tackle Shy Tuttle.
SERIES HISTORY: Florida leads the all-time series 27-20 and has taken 12 of the last 13 contests — including 11 straight between the 2005 and 2015 seasons. “When I was growing up, it was always the first big SEC game of the year,” Vols coach Jeremy Pruitt said of the rivalry formerly known as “Third Saturday in September.” He added: “When I was growing up, I always loved to watch it — always a lot of passion with both fan bases, a lot of tradition. I’m thankful to have the chance to be a part of it.”
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Well, when I get ready to go somewhere, my granddad used to be a truck driver, so he always knows the best routes. I think I’d be foolish if I didn’t talk to Coach Fulmer about anything in the football program; not just the offensive line, but anything. I’m asking him questions all the time.” –Head coach Jeremy Pruitt on Tennessee Athletic Director and former Vols coach Phillip Fulmer addressing the team’s offensive line
