Tennessee defensive tackle Daevin Hobbs is off the SEC Availability Report and will make his junior season debut on Saturday as the Vols host Arkansas at Neyland Stadium.
Hobbs suffered a foot injury back during fall camp that sidelined him for the second preseason scrimmage and for the entirety of September. Getting Hobbs back in the fold is a big addition for a Tennessee defensive tackle room that’s been injured this season.
“Daevin had a great offseason and was playing extremely well during the course of training camp,” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said on the SEC Coaches Teleconference Wednesday. “Unfortunate, but those things happen in this game. Done a great job in the rehab process.”
The former five-star recruit was a rotational defensive tackle for Tennessee last season where he totaled 20 tackles and one sack over the course of the season. Hobbs looked poised for a breakout junior season with his coaches offering praise over the offseason before he suffered the foot injury.
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Tennessee has been banged up at defensive tackle all season. The Vols were already thin on the interior of the defensive line to begin the season before Hobbs suffered his injury and defensive tackle Jaxson Moi suffered an injury early in the season opener against Syracuse.
But the Vols got Moi back from injury against Mississippi State. Getting Hobbs back is another boost for Tennessee’s defensive front and for a run defense that has struggled at times early this season. If Hobbs can overcome the injury and still have a breakout season then it could change Tennessee’s defense. But even not, the extra body and improved depth will be important
Arkansas has one of the SEC’s best offenses, averaging 36.4 points per game so far this year. The Razorbacks rushing attack has been consistent this season with quarterback Taylen Green leading the way. Arkansas enters Saturday’s matchup with the second most rushing yards in the SEC per game this season.
Tennessee football is a 12.5-point favorites over Arkansas according to the FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under is set at 68.5. Kickoff from Neyland Stadium is at 4:15 p.m. ET. Dave Neal, Fozzy Whittaker and Morgan Uber are on the call for the SEC Network.
