Tennessee football: Top 10 SEC stars 2019 Vols have to account for

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws the ball against the Clemson Tigers during the third quarter in the College Football Playoff National Championship at Levi's Stadium on January 07, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

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Will Muschamp has always owned Tennessee football with elite defensive players. That’s why he is 7-0 against them. Last year, he did it again with the South Carolina Gamecocks behind T.J. Brunson, who was all over the field.

Brunson had 14 tackles against the Vols. That was part of a recurring theme for him, as he finished the year with 106 tackles, including 10 and a half tackles for a loss and four sacks. Oh, he also forced a fumble and defended a pass. Simply put, Brunson is that type of linebacker who can be all over the field.

This year, the 6’1″ 230-pound senior will be a major force for the Vols. Jeremy Pruitt and Jim Chaney will need to account for where he is on the field at all times, and if they get caught napping, he could blow a play up. Brunson is looking to explode onto the scene his senior year the same way the Vols are hoping Daniel Bituli and Darrell Taylor to explode.

Taking that into account, UT could be in big trouble if they don’t check Brunson. He is the veteran of the linebacker corps., and while he is going to be banged up to start the season, he should likely be good to go by the time he travels to Knoxville.

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