Tennessee football officially made the change to its offensive line last week at Kentucky, but is being forced to shake things up again. After making his second-straight start at right tackle, five-star freshman David Sanders Jr. was rolled up on and appeared to suffer a lower right-leg injury. He hobbled off the field after an extended time on the ground.
However, on the following drive, Sanders made a return. He took over his spot in the starting lineup at right tackle.
In response to the momentary injury on the previous drive, the Vols subbed in Sham Umarov at right guard. Starting right guard Jesse Perry was moved out to right tackle. This is slightly different from the previous starting group that the team used to begin the season, as Wendell Moe Jr. played right guard and Umarov was at left guard in that lineup.
More From RTI: Tennessee Star Wide Receiver Returns in Oklahoma Game After Taking Big Hit
Sanders missed the first chunk of the season before returning on the road trip to Mississippi State. His initial injury was an upper-body issue. In the game in Starkville, he entered for an injured Perry on the game-tying drive at the end of regulation. Perry returned for overtime.
He was rotated in the following games against Arkansas and at Alabama before making his first start at Kentucky in a 56-34 win.
Sanders’ PFF grade for his first season of college ball sits at a solid 65.7 mark. In pass protection, he’s at 81.3, while he sits at 63.5 in the run game.
The game between Tennessee and Oklahoma is airing on ABC. The Vols took a 10-7 lead into the second quarter, despite giving up a defensive touchdown to the Sooners.
