Tennessee football was without one of its top defenders during its trip to Lexington to play Kentucky this past Saturday. Arion Carter, one of the Vols’ starting linebackers and leaders on defense, came up on the initial availability report as ‘questionable’ on Wednesday. He ended up being a game-time decision, but did not register a snap in the game due to injury.
Carter has started in each of Tennessee’s games this year as the weak-side linebacker opposite of Jeremiah Telander. On the season, Carter has produced 61 tackles, good for a team high. He’s also notched one pass deflected, one sack and forced a fumble.
With Carter unable to go on Saturday, Edwin Spillman stepped up as a starter and registered the most snaps at linebacker on the team. The redshirt freshman played 70 snaps and earned a PFF grade of 71.5. Jeremiah Telander reprised his starting role, as well, playing 49 snaps for a PFF grade of 65.1.
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Tennessee started three linebackers in the game for the first time this year, too. Freshman Jadon Perlotte started and played 40 snaps for a 74.1 PFF grade. He recovered a fumble in the game, too.
The only other player to get a snap at the position was Jaedon Harmon. He played just nine snaps for a PFF grade of 73.6. Jordan Burns, who was healthy, did not get on the field. Ben Bolton missed the game with an injury, as well.
Tennessee ultimately won the game 56-34. Spillman led the team in tackles with 15, including 11 solo efforts, 0.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry. Telander was right behind him with six, including a half tackle for loss. Perlotte added one tackle and a quarterback hurry.
Next, the Vols will host Oklahoma inside Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET and will air on ABC. Josh Heupel typically declines to comment on specific injuries, but will reveal his updated status on Wednesday during the availability report.
