KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt said the Volunteer football team had one of its best weeks of practice on Wednesday as UT has turned its focus to this weekend’s road test against South Carolina.
“I think our guys have had a really good week of practice for three days,” Pruitt said. “There’s been a lot of energy and you see guys practicing with a purpose. I think we’ve improved in three days, which we need to.
“There’s really but one place to go for us right now and that’s up, and that’s good, but if we practice like that every single day, we’re going to continue to improve. I appreciate our guys’ effort and intensity that we’ve had and we’re looking forward to this weekend.”
This is the 37th time these two teams have met as the Vols look to snap a two-game losing streak to the Gamecocks. Tennessee’s last win at South Carolina came in 2014 when the Vols won a 45-42 thriller in overtime. Then-sophomore quarterback Josh Dobbs threw for 301 yards and ran for 166, while the team rushed for 344 yards as a whole. The Vols trailed 42-28 with under five minutes left, but battled back for the win.
The Gamecocks are 3-3 this season and are coming off a bye week. South Carolina dropped its last game to Texas A&M, 26-23, on Oct. 13.
“They’re very balanced, they’re multiple in their formations and they can beat you a bunch of different ways,” Pruitt said.
Saturday’s game will be played under the lights at Williams-Brice Stadium at night for the fifth time in series history. Tennessee is 2-2 in those games. This weekend’s game will be broadcasted live on the SEC Network with kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m. Tom Hart and Jordan Rodgers will be on the call with Cole Cubelic on the sideline.
Banks & Fils-aime Make Moves
At the start of the week the Vols saw a couple of players make position changes. Freshman Jeremy Banks has made the move to linebacker from running back while junior defensive back Carlin Fils-aimehas made the move back to running back for the Big Orange this week.
“Well, I think he’s (Banks) a runner and a hitter and he’s physical, he likes ball. He’s practiced for three days on defense, so he probably doesn’t have a whole lot of knowledge on what we’re trying to get done, but I think he’s a guy that can play there,” Pruitt said.
Banks, has played in all seven games for the Vols and has 41 carries for 161 yards and three touchdowns at running back this season. Fils-aime played running back for the Vols during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and has recorded 45 carries for 273 yards and four touchdowns during his career.
“I think if we’re going to move Jeremy to linebacker we need to have a fourth running back and Carlin is a guy that played snaps here before,” Pruitt said. “He’s a fast guy. He’s got good change of direction, so just trying to manage the roster and create possibilities for everybody.”
Could Be a Close One
The last six meetings between Tennessee and South Carolina have been decided by one possession, with the average margin of victory being 3.3 points. In last season’s contest at Neyland Stadium, the Gamecocks stopped the Vols on the 2-yard line as time expired, and escaped with a 15-9 win. In 2016, Tennessee kicker Aaron Medley’s 58-yard field goal attempt fell short as time expired to give the Gamecocks a 24-21 victory. In 2015, Malik Foreman forced a fumble by South Carolina tight end Jerell Adams inside Tennessee territory with under a minute to play, which was recovered by linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin. The Vols held on to win, 27-24.
Extra Time
The Vols are 13-7 in overtime games and their 20 overtime appearances are the most in FBS history. The Gamecocks have accounted for three of those overtime games, with Tennessee winning all three of those contests and all three being decided by a field goal.
Defense Making Plays
The Volunteer defense has stepped up the last two games. For the first time since 2007, Tennessee has scored a defensive touchdown in back-to-back games. Alontae Taylor recovered a fumble in the end zone at Auburn for a score and a week later Kyle Phillips picked off a pass from Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown. UT has scored three defensive touchdowns on the season. The other one came on a 33-yard interception return by Darrin Kirkland Jr. against ETSU on Sept. 8.
“We have a lot of guys that are obviously new to the system. The more they’re around it, obviously the more knowledge they’ll get, they gain confidence,” Pruitt said.
Vol Report: Tennessee Having Good Week of Practice Ahead of Game at South Carolina
