Turnover margin not in Vols’ favor
KNOXVILLE — Tennessee’s six turnovers forced this season rank 91st among the 128 Football Bowl Subdivision teams, and the Volunteers’ turnover margin of negative-four ranks 104th.
South Carolina, on the other hand, is 13th in turnover margin at plus-seven. The Gamecocks (4-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) and Vols (3-2, 0-2) meet at noon Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
“We’ve been able to take the football away, but we need to take it away much, much more,” Tennessee coach Butch Jones said Wednesday. “That’s an area that we have to continue to grow and get better.”
The Gamecocks scored on two interception returns and a fumble return in last week’s 48-22 win over Arkansas and did not turn the football over. In a season-opening win over North Carolina State, South Carolina recovered a pair of fumbles.
“They do a great job of getting all 11 individuals to the football, the way they gang tackle, the way they try and rake the football out and separate the ball from your body,” Jones said. “They do a tremendous job of that.”
Starts with Bentley
South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley made his first SEC start in last year’s 24-21 win against Tennessee, which was ranked 18th at the time. He completed 15 of 20 passes for 167 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
“Offensively, it all starts with the quarterback Bentley,” Jones said. “He does a good job managing the game. You can tell he’s their leader and he’s in control.”
Bentley’s 12 passing touchdowns are tied for second in the league this season, although his 142.5 quarterback rating ranks ninth in the SEC. The Gamecocks have relied more heavily on their running game since star receiver Deebo Samuel was injured in the third game.
Samuel had three touchdown catches, two touchdowns on kickoff returns and a rushing touchdown before the injury.
“I’m not going to cry a river that Samuel is not playing,” Tennessee defensive coordinator Bob Shoop said this week. “He’s really good, whether it’s in the return game, as a receiver, jet sweeps, screens, things like that. He had a nice feel with Bentley. Bentley is a real savvy type guy, like a coach on the field.”
Tuttle’s progress
Jones praised junior defensive tackle Shy Tuttle, a highly touted prospect in the 2015 recruiting class, who has battled injuries through his career but returned to the field this year as a backup.
“A lot of times, individuals never recover from those injuries,” Jones said. “He’s as positive as there is. He just works.”
Tuttle missed the Massachusetts game this season because of a minor injury after Jones said he fell on a helmet.
“He told me this is really the first time he’s starting to feel like his old self,” Jones said. “It takes time. It takes time from a conditioning standpoint. It takes time with trust from those injuries.”
Injury update
Tight end Jakob Johnson and safety and kick returner Evan Berry, both seniors, will not play Saturday. Berry has not played since the season opener, while Johnson was injured against UMass.
“Both individuals are progressing, and we look forward to their return,” Jones said. “Still don’t know when, but they’re getting closer and closer.”