Flights will be shorthanded in secondary against South Carolina

Tennessee will be without a defensive starter and shorthanded in the secondary for Saturday’s noon kickoff against SEC East rival South Carolina (noon, ESPN2). Defensive tackle Elijah Simmons was not in uniform for the pre-match warm-ups at Neyland Stadium on Saturday morning, and the defensive backs Doneiko Slaughter and Christian charles were also in proper formal attire after injuring themselves in last week’s victory at Missouri.

Defensive back According to Jackson He is also not expected to play, although he stepped out in uniform and underwent warm-ups with the first-team defense after wearing his jersey early in the pre-match as other players who are on the sidelines.

Slaughter also stepped out in uniform but didn’t really have a warm-up with the rest of the defensive backs.

Jackson is the Flights’ top tackle, but he left last week’s win at Missouri in the second quarter after being involved in a big collision with the Tigers wide receiver. Taussian dove. Both players went for a pass and established helmet-to-helmet contact that briefly left them on the ground. Jackson got up second and left the field on his own but did not return to the game.

Simmons, who has six tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss and one slap assist this season, suffered a knee injury late in the loss to Florida and did not start last week at Missouri, but he came in. in the game and landed a tackle for a loss before sustaining an apparent leg injury at the start of the second quarter.

Flights will get a boost in the defensive backfield with the return of departure security Flowers of Trévon, who missed out on victory at Missouri last week.

Super senior Jackson has arguably been Tennessee’s best defensive player this season. He leads the Vols with 37 tackles in five games and also has 6.5 tackles for a loss (tied for fourth in the SEC), 1.5 sacks and six breakage passes. He’s also a versatile piece in the high school due to his ability to play in multiple positions, as evidenced last week when he started against Missouri in his usual nickel spot before coming back to safety.

“According to Jackson plays about as well as anyone could play in the first five games, ”Tennessee high school coach Willie martinez said this week. “In the last baseball game some guys got beaten up. Next guy mentality. He goes out there and plays one position – he can literally play all five positions at the back, and it’s really good to have on your team. He’s playing really solid.

Charles started in place of absent veteran Flowers against Missouri and had a third assist in the game’s opening defensive streak, but was injured and did not play the remainder of the game. When the freshman left, the Vols brought Jackson back to safety and inserted Slaughter where the nickel was. The second landed three tackles, one loss tackle and a rushed quarterback in his most extensive action of the season, but he limped off the field in the fourth quarter after making a tackle.

Slaughter has been the backup for Jackson in the nickel point and Charles a safe backup, and both have performed extensively on special teams, so their absences will be felt on the Tennessee cover and returning units as well.

Tennessee’s defense will also be without a linebacker Juwan mitchell, the Texas transfer went missing for the third time in four games with what is believed to be a shoulder injury.