Former SEC Official Weighs In on Holding Call That Erased a Staley Touchdown Against South Carolina

A holding call on David Sanders Jr. that wiped out a Braylon Staley touchdown for Tennessee against South Carolina has drawn a second look from a former SEC official. A to Z Sports reported the former official's opinion on the play, putting one of the game's most consequential flags under fresh scrutiny.

For Tennessee, the call mattered because it took points off the board. A touchdown by Staley would have counted had the penalty not been called, so the ruling on Sanders Jr. directly changed what the Volunteers got from that possession against South Carolina.

Calls like that tend to linger after a game because they combine a judgment by the on-field crew with a clear scoring impact. The former official's assessment adds an experienced officiating perspective to the discussion, even as the play itself remains part of the record from Tennessee's meeting with South Carolina.