GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: If Tennessee wants to pick up a much-needed road victory, the Vols need to convert on third down. That might be easier said than done against a South Carolina defense that ranks fourth in the nation with a 24.6 percent success rate on the pivotal down. The Volunteers haven’t had much success on third down, converting just 3 of 13 opportunities a week ago against Alabama and 37.5 percent for the season.
DRAFT SLANT
–SS Nigel Warrior tied for the team lead with eight tackles against Alabama, equaling his season-high set in Week 1 versus West Virginia. The junior team leader challenged his teammates after the game, questioning Tennessee’s preparation against the nation’s top-ranked team. “We just had some mishaps, players not coming to play, it just has to be in your heart,” Warrior said after the 58-21 loss. “It’s all preparation and some people weren’t prepared. We’re still out here working, we just had some mishaps.”
ROSTER REPORT:
–S Micah Abernathy remains day-to-day for the South Carolina game while healing from an ankle injury that sidelined the senior for the Auburn and Alabama games. Abernathy has 18 tackles this year and 177 for his career.
–TE Dominick Wood-Anderson missed the Alabama game with an injured hamstring. The starting tight end has seven catches for 55 yards and a touchdown in his first season on Rocky Top after arriving from Arizona Western Community College this summer.
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