PLAYERS TO WATCH
–RB Ty Chandler is the first tailback in Vols’ history to catch a touchdown pass in three consecutive games, the most recent coming on a 10-yard scoring grab against Alabama. The sophomore is averaging 93 all-purpose yards per game and is second on the team with 319 rushing yards and a touchdown.
–WR Jauan Jennings pulled down more yards (102 yards) versus Alabama than any other wide receiver this season. The redshirt junior hauled in 93 of those yards in the first half of the Vols’ 58-21 loss to the Tide. It was Jennings’ first 100-yard effort since catching three passes for 111 yards and a touchdown on Sept. 24, 2016, against Florida. He has 309 receiving yards on the year to go along with a pair of touchdowns.
–DE Kyle Phillips followed up his SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors against Auburn by terrorizing Alabama with his first career interception, which he turned into a 27-yard touchdown. The senior added a quarterback hurry and a pair of assisted tackles to give him 27 takedowns on the year.
–CB Baylen Buchanan had a career-best seven tackles in each of his last two games, vaulting him to third on the team with 31 for the season. The junior notched his second tackle for loss and pass break-up of the year versus Alabama.
SERIES HISTORY: Tennessee has dominated the all-time series by a 25-9-2 margin, but South Carolina has won the previous two meetings — including a 24-21 upset win over the No. 18 Vols in 2016. The Volunteers hold a 9-6-2 edge in Columbia. Thirteen of the past 19 contests have been determined by fewer than one score.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We made a lot of mistakes. They were unforced errors, to me. I said it after the game and I said it at halftime. We have a lot of guys that try to compete and play to the standard and expectations, but unfortunately, you have 11 guys out there and it takes all 11. Even the guys that are trying to do it the right way, they’re not going to win every battle.” –Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt on getting maximum effort from everyone on his roster
