Tennessee Availability Report: Key Offensive Lineman Lance Heard Remains Questionable For The Vols

Lance Heard
KNOXVILLE, TN – March 27, 2024 – Offensive lineman Lance Heard #53 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the spring scrimmage at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics

The Southeastern Conference passed a new rule this week, introducing a big weekly addition in the form of an injury report on Wednesday nights, Thursday nights, Friday nights, and Saturdays before a game.

Tennessee released their inaugural injury report on Wednesday with three players out, one questionable, and three probable.

The Vols’ list remains unchanged as of Thursday night at 8:10 p.m. ET.

Tennessee Availability Report (Thursday Updated 8:10 p.m. ET)

OUT

– Safety Jourdan Thomas

– Safety John Slaughter

– Offensive lineman Sham Umarov

QUESTIONABLE

– Left tackle Lance Heard

PROBABLE

– STAR William Wright

– Linebacker Ben Bolton

– Offensive guard William Satterwhite

More from RTI: Tennessee Football Preview – Josh Heupel Returns to Norman As Oklahoma Hosts Vols in Top 15 Showdown

Thomas will be out for the remainder of the season after suffering a preseason right knee injury on August 4. The status to keep an eye on, though, is Tennessee left tackle Lance Heard.

With John Campbell Jr. moving to right tackle this offseason, Tennessee was able to slide former LSU transfer Lance Heard into the vacant left tackle position. The former SEC All-Freshman team selection started the first two games of the season but did not play against Kent State in Week 3 due to an ankle injury that was suffered against NC State.

The Sooners present a stout defensive line with an impressive ability to get after the quarterback, highlighting the need for Heard this Saturday night in Norman, OK. In Heard’s absence last week against the Golden Flashes, Tennessee slotted in redshirt senior Dayne Davis at the left tackle position. Davis is certainly capable of holding down that position on the Vols’ line but Heard’s health will be an important storyline to monitor late in the week.

Oklahoma’s availability report is also the same from Wednesday night with four players out, one doubtful, three questionable, and four probable.

Oklahoma Availability Report

OUT

– WR Jayden Gibson

– WR Jalil Farooq

– DB Gentry Williams

– OL Geirean Hatchett

DOUBTFUL

– LB Dasan McCollough

QUESTIONABLE

– TE Kade McIntyre

– OL Branson Hickman

– OL Jake Taylor

PROBABLE

– WR Nic Anderson

– WR Andrel Anthony

– DB Kendel Dolby

– OL Troy Everett

More from RTI: Where Tennessee Football Has A Massive Advantage Against Oklahoma

It looks as though Oklahoma wide receiver Nic Anderson is on track to make his season debut this week after being listed as probable in two straight reports. Anderson was the Sooner’s leading returning receiver from the 2023 season with 798 yards and 10 touchdowns on 38 receptions.

Also in that same boat is Oklahoma center Troy Everett, a lineman who had a handful of starts last season. Everett’s next appearance will be his season debut, as well.

Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee-Oklahoma game week coverage.

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