Tennessee football is looking to get back in the win column as they host UAB for a non-conference matchup at Neyland Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The banged-up Vols will be down a number of key players and reserves for the non-conference matchup. Tennessee cornerbacks Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson, defensive tackles Jaxson Moi and Daevin Hobbs, receiver Radarious Jackson, tight end DaSaahn Brame, defensive end Tyre West and offensive tackle David Sanders are all out for the Vols against the Blazers.
Most of the injuries are nothing new for Tennessee. McCoy has yet to make his junior season debut after tearing his ACL back in January. Gibson is missing his third straight game after suffering an injury in Tennessee’s season-opening win over Syracuse.
With Gibson and McCoy sidelined, Colton Hood and Ty Redmond will start for Tennessee at corner as they have the last two weeks. Redmond is a true freshman who is looking to bounce back from a tough performance a week ago against Georgia.
Like Gibson, Moi suffered an injury in the first quarter of Tennessee’s win over Syracuse. He’s nearing a return to the field but the Vols aren’t pushing the envelope in the non conference matchup. Hobbs suffered a foot injury in fall camp but is off crutches and is seemingly getting closer to making his season debut.
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Bryson Eason and Dominic Bailey will start at defensive tackle with the duo out while Nathan Robinson, Ethan Utley and Jamal Wallace will provide depth.
This is the first game West has missed this season with the senior playing well in an abundance of snaps last week against Georgia. Tyree Weathersby and particularly Mariyon Dye should see an increase of reps with West sidelined.
Five-star freshman David Sanders is still waiting to making his college debut as he battles a “unique” injury that Josh Heupel shed a little more light on earlier this week.
“A unique injury that doctors are uncertain (on),” Heupel said. “That’s kind of why he’s been day-to-day for a while here. Uncertain, it’s not like a sprained ankle. And I say that meaning there’s not a definitive timeline, so he’s been having to fight through that. Guy wants to be out there. It hurts him badly. Our football team, guys in his position room can see that but he’s been a good teammate too.”
With Sanders sidelined for the time being, right guard Jesse Perry starts at right tackle, Wendell Moe moves from left to right guard and Sham Umarov starts at left guard.
Jackson is a backup receiver who suffered an injury after taking a big hit last week against Georgia. The freshman missing the UAB game stings because he would have gotten an abundance of playing time.
Brame is a fourth string tight end but the talented freshmen would have gotten a good bit of run against the Blazers.
Kickoff between Tennessee and UAB is at 12:45 p.m. ET. Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb and Alyssa Lang are on the call for the SEC Network.
