Tennessee football returns to Neyland Stadium on Saturday afternoon for its 2025 Orange & White spring game.
The spring game marks the conclusion of the fifth spring practice of Josh Heupel’s tenure. It was a relatively drama free spring practice for the Vols until Friday when starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava was absent from practice amidst reports that his team were negotiating for a new contract.
Iamaleava’s status for the Orange-and-White game is uncertain and the biggest question entering the event. But there will be a number of other key Vols that will not participate. Tennessee has not put out any sort of injury report ahead of the game but here’s a look at players that will not participate or may not participate based on their practice history this spring.
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Players Who Will Definitely Be Out
- CB Jermod McCoy
- STAR Jourdan Thomas
- RB Daune Morris
- TE Miles Kitselman
- OL Jeremias Heard
- DT Daevin Hobbs
- LB Arion Carter
- LB Jaedon Harmon
- LB Jadon Perlotte
- DE Emmanuel Okoye
- DE Jayden Loftin
- LEO Mariyon Dye
- LEO Caleb Herring
McCoy and Thomas have been out all spring as they each continue to rehab torn ACL injuries. Carter, Harmon, Perlotte, Okoye and Dye have also been out or partial participants the entirety of spring practice. Hobbs and Morris suffered minor injuries in practice and have been partial participants in practice since.
Kitselman suffered a pec injury during spring practice and has been a non participant in practice ever since. Herring’s injury is unclear but he was wearing sweats and not participating in practice on Wednesday.
Players Who Could Also Be Out
- QB Nico Iamaleava
- WR Amari Jefferson
- TE DaSaahn Brame
- TE Cole Harrison
- WR Braylon Staley
- OG Gage Ginther
- RB Star Thomas
Jefferson, Harrison and Brame have been in either yellow or red uniforms throughout spring practice. They’ve been limited participants in practice. Tennessee usually is conservative with which banged up players take part in the spring game. That makes it unlikely that they’ll participate.
Staley and Thomas have both been banged up a bit during spring practice. Staley missed Monday’s scrimmage but was a full participant in the open portions of Wednesday’s practice. Thomas has been in-and-out of the fold. It’s unclear whether they’ll go.
