Last time Tennessee took the field in its overtime win over Mississippi State on the road, freshman David Sanders Jr. was available to play for the first time in his career. Despite being listed as the starter at right tackle on the depth chart, Josh Heupel and the Vols opted to roll with the same offensive line that was working to start the year.
With a bye week before Saturday’s game against Arkansas, there were questions of it Heupel would be willing to insert Sanders into the starting lineup. Ultimately, he remained on the bench, though. Instead, Jesse Perry reprised his role at right tackle with Sham Umarov and Wendell Moe Jr. playing guard and Sam Pendleton at center.
Heupel did say he expects Sanders to play in the game during his Monday press conference, though, so he could see the field off the bench at some point.
Sanders played 11 snaps in the game against Mississippi State. He replaced an injured Perry on the game-tying drive late in regulation and played well, despite a false start going against him. After the drive, Perry returned to finish the game.
Sanders was given a 45.2 grade on PFF, the worst on the team on offense. Sanders pass blocked on five plays. In this time, he was given a 45.3 grade. He run blocked on the other six, earning a 59.1 mark.
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After the game, Heupel was asked about the debut of Sanders. He recognized the tough situation he was put in and thought he’s handled the early adversity of his career well.
“I thought he went in there in a tough situation, getting first action, responded, played really well,” Heupel said. “It’s a great example to young guys that haven’t been in this game that you don’t know when it’s coming, but it’s coming, you better be ready. It’s during the course of play, 60 minutest, it’s week to week, and it’s great to have him back. That’s a young guy that has had to deal with an adverse injury right out the gate, handled it well. He was a great teammate and has wanted to be on that field. As a coach, you deal with a lot of hard moments, too. When he got the word that, man, he was cleared— that’s one of those great moments that stays with you, too.”
Tennessee’s game vs. Arkansas kicked off at 4:15 p.m. ET. It is airing on the SEC Network. The Vols are looking to hold off a Bobby Petrino-led Hogs squad after the Razorbacks fired head coach Sam Pittman after their last game. Petrino is now the interim coach after serving as offensive coordinator.
