PLAYERS TO WATCH
–RB Ty Chandler owns the longest play from scrimmage in the SEC through the first month with his 81-yard scamper against Texas-El Paso. The sophomore is second on the team in rushing with 247 yards in essentially three games. Chandler scored the first receiving touchdown of his career two weeks ago against Georgia on a 33-yard screen route.
–QB Jarrett Guarantano is fewer than 200 yards away from eclipsing 1,000 for the season — a feat he fell three yards shy of as a freshman. His 145.7 rating places him fourth in SEC as he looks to build consistency. The redshirt sophomore countered his two interceptions against Florida with a pair of touchdowns passes a week later versus Georgia. “Jarrett is just like everybody else on our football team,” said coach Jeremy Pruitt. “He’s had bright spots just like a lot of guys. I think we’re looking for consistency with all of our players.”
–LB Derrick Taylor posted a career-best day against No. 2 Georgia with six solo tackles, three sacks and a pair of forced fumbles. It was the type of effort that coach Jeremy Pruitt has been looking for from the defensive front, particularly the redshirt junior. Taylor now has six career sacks to go along with eight tackles for loss in 23 games.
–LB Daniel Bituli led Tennessee with eight tackles against Georgia. The strong performance allowed Bituli to leap-frog over Darrin Kirkland Jr. for team lead with 26 stops.
SERIES HISTORY: Tennessee looks to snap a six-game losing streak to Auburn — and an 11-game SEC losing skid — when the Vols travel to Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time since the 2008 season. The Tigers own a 28-21-3 edge in a rivalry that dates to 1929. Tennessee has struggled on Auburn’s turf, winning just twice and tying once in 10 trips.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It will definitely be a huge challenge for us, but our guys are looking forward to it. I know I’m excited to get back out on the field and get a chance to prepare for somebody. Just trying to talk to our guys. They don’t have any history of playing Auburn and I think especially on the defensive side, there’s a lot of awareness that you need.” — Head coach Jeremy Pruitt