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Tennessee football’s top five performers in 45-20 win vs. South Carolina

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) scores a touchdown in the end zone as South Carolina defensive back Jaylan Foster (12) during an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) scores a touchdown in the end zone as South Carolina defensive back Jaylan Foster (12) during an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football /
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South Carolina running back Kevin Harris (20) is grabbed by Tennessee defensive back Brandon Turnage (29) in the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, October 9, 2021.Utvsc1007
South Carolina running back Kevin Harris (20) is grabbed by Tennessee defensive back Brandon Turnage (29) in the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, October 9, 2021.Utvsc1007 /

Redshirt sophomore. Brandon Turnage. 839. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Defensive back. 4. player

14 tackles (7 solo); 2 TFLs

Talk about an amazing story. Brandon Turnage, who had transferred from the Alabama Crimson Tide, got his first start at nickel for Tennessee football, as Theo Jackson was hurt. Jackson himself had been a great story of productivity on the year after waiting his chance to be the full-time starter at that position.

Well, Turnage followed in Jackson’s footsteps Saturday. He made a couple of mistakes in coverage, but he was all over the field. Nobody else had even 10 total tackles, and he had 14. That, his solo tackles and his tackles for a loss all led the team.

Numerous players took advantage of their shot in this game. Ja’Quain Blakely had a tackle for a loss, Matthew Butler had a sack and Byron Young assisted on a sack and a separate tackle for a loss. Aaron Beasley assisted on a tackle for a loss and recovered a fumble, Jeremy Banks got a sack and assisted on another one and Solon Page III assisted on a tackle for a loss.

All of those defensive linemen and linebackers could have been on here as well. However, Turnage was the standout story, and given how well the secondary played in this game, he’s the one who deserves the helmet sticker. That his former school lost to the Texas A&M Aggies later that night had to make it somewhat more thrilling.

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