As Tennessee gears up for Tuesday’s Music City Bowl clash against Illinois, there’s a chance the Vols could get a key piece of their offense back just in time. Tight end Miles Kitselman, who’s been sidelined with an injury since the New Mexico State game, might be ready to suit up again - and that could be a quiet but meaningful boost for Tennessee’s game plan.
Kitselman was Tennessee’s starting tight end when healthy, and while his numbers this season - 25 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns - don’t jump off the page, his impact goes well beyond the stat sheet. He’s been a dependable option in the passing game and a steady presence as a run blocker, something that doesn’t always show up in the box score but matters a whole lot when you’re trying to establish balance on offense.
Quarterback Joey Aguilar certainly sounds optimistic about the possibility of Kitselman returning.
“He’s a big aspect of our offense, in the pass and run game,” Aguilar said. “To have him out there is super exciting. Just one more target for me.”
That connection between Aguilar and Kitselman has been building all season, and having a veteran tight end who knows the system and can make plays in space or chip in on the edge could be a valuable asset against a physical Illinois defense.
This will be Kitselman’s final game in a Tennessee uniform if he’s able to go. After starting his college career at Hutchinson Community College and spending two seasons at Alabama, he’s finishing up his second year with the Vols - and his college eligibility. For a Tennessee team that’s looking to close out the season on a high note, having a seasoned player like Kitselman back in the mix could bring some welcomed stability to the offense.
In his absence over the final two games of the regular season, sophomore Ethan Davis stepped up in a big way. Davis made the most of his increased role, hauling in five catches for 72 yards and a touchdown against Florida, and following that up with a seven-catch, 85-yard performance against Vanderbilt. It was a breakout stretch that showed what Davis can do when given the opportunity, and it also gave Tennessee fans a glimpse of the future at the position.
The tight end room also features a trio of younger players - freshmen Jack Van Dorselaer and DaSaahn Brame, along with redshirt freshman Cole Harrison - but heading into a bowl game, experience tends to matter. If Kitselman is indeed ready to go, Tennessee will have the luxury of leaning on a proven blocker and a reliable target in the middle of the field.
Kickoff for the Music City Bowl is set for 5:30 p.m. ET at Nissan Stadium in Nashville - home of the Tennessee Titans - and the game will be broadcast on ESPN. As the Vols prepare to take the field, all eyes will be on whether Kitselman makes his return, and how that might shape Tennessee’s offensive rhythm in their final game of the season.