Tennessee football is just days away from taking on South Carolina on the road. To preview the matchup in Columbia, Vols head coach Josh Heupel joined Voice of the Vols Mike Keith on The Mike Keith Show to give his thoughts.

Here’s what he said.

On how the week has gone

“It’s been a good week, and we understand what we’re getting into on the road in this league. It’s gonna be a great environment, and it’s going to take our best.”

On South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers

“He’s got the ability to make plays in the passing game. He’s got a ton of experience. He’s seen a lot of different looks. He’s got dynamic playmakers on the outside. But then again, his feet are a major concern. You don’t want to let him sit back there in the pocket. But when you apply pressure to him, you better have integrity in your rush lanes. And then when you get to him, you got to get him down. He is big. He is strong. And when he gets out as a runner, he’s dynamic.”

On Sellers putting the traits of the past three quarterbacks Tennessee has faced in one package

“Yeah, that’s why he’s thought of so highly at the next level as well. And it’s a football team that’s playing extremely good, their best football here the last week. And a big part of this test is they got two weeks of preparation. Physically, they’re going to be at their best with a bye week and an extra week of preparation. The challenge for our guys has been surpassing that preparation that they’ve had to go play our best football.”

On South Carolina defensive coordinator Clayton White

“Play a lot of match coverage on the second and third levels. They’ve done a really good job against the run game this year. A part of that is their safety is being near and close to the box, fitting it up and tackling extremely well. When you get into passing situations, they have personnel, not just scheme, because they have scheme, too, but they have personnel that is dynamic and can change the way the game’s played.”

On South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart, knowing where he is every play

“Yes, you do, in particular on third down. He’s as good of an edge rusher as there is in this league.”

On where his team needs to improve

“Holistically. But in particular, special teams and offensively, we have to play smarter. Some of that’s before the ball is even snapped. Some of it’s in our communication offensively. And that’s where it really starts. But fundamentals, technique, growth within your scheme, all those things should be continuing to improve. I thought last week we tackled as well as we have as a football team, and that paid major dividends in the football game. Need to see continued growth in that as well.”

On WR Braylon Staley’s leadership

“I go back to even before last year, his growth and maturation during his true freshman year and his mindset, how he approached every day going into his second year when we came back that winter. That’s why he took a massive jump from year one to year two. But this year, he’s done a great job of not just doing that for himself, showing, demonstrating, leading the guys in that room. He’s a true competitor. He practices extremely well every single day. It matters to him.

And he’s extremely selfless. He’s willing to play without the ball in his hands. When the ball comes his way, he’s going to go make a play for you. And this is a special one for him, too, going back to his home state.”

On what OL Donovan Haslam has done this year

“Dramatic change in his body during the course of our offseason. Had as much growth in the winter and the summer, just adding muscle mass, decreasing body fat. It’s parlayed himself into continuing to grow as a player. He’s done a really good job, in particular, the last couple of weeks. He’s gotten more comfortable just in what we’re doing, scheme and communication up front. ”

On what DB Dejuan Lane has done this year

“Dejuan, dynamic playmaker. Everybody has seen the plays that he’s made. But another guy that took great advantage of our offseason with D.O. He’s big, strong, fast, and he’s turned himself into a dynamic playmaker. A year ago, got some play before he came here at Penn State. But really on the back half of last year, in the bowl game, started to play his best football and just continued growth as a person. And that’s parlayed into the player.”