Tennessee’s first SEC road trip of the season trimmed the freshman footprint quite a bit, but the Vols still found a way to get a handful of first-year players on the field in Saturday’s 24-17 win at Arkansas.
The travel roster was smaller, and several younger players did not make the trip to Fayetteville, Ark. Still, Tennessee played 11 true freshmen overall at Donald W.
Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Most of that group cameos on special teams, but a few saw real action on offense and defense.
The most notable freshman absence from the game plan was quarterback Faizon Brandon. Brandon traveled with the team, but after starting Tennessee’s first five games, he did not play against the Razorbacks. Sophomore George MacIntyre handled the start after replacing Brandon late in the first half of the Vols’ Oct. 3 win over Auburn.
Brandon’s status had been up in the air all week after he appeared to suffer a shoulder injury in Tennessee’s 20-17 loss to top-ranked Texas on Sept. 26.
He struggled against Auburn before leaving late in the second quarter, and the Vols listed him as questionable and then as a game-time decision before Saturday. After the game, coach Josh Heupel said Brandon was available for "emergency use only."
Several other freshmen carved out snaps on the field. Defensive tackle JJ Finch played 12 snaps on defense, according to Pro Football Focus, and picked up a quarterback hurry.
Tight end Luca Wolf logged 21 snaps, while wide receiver TK Keys was on the field for three snaps. None of those three recorded a catch, and none were targeted on MacIntyre’s 29 pass attempts.
A cluster of other freshmen also saw action, though mostly in special teams roles: Brayden Rouse, Joel Wyatt, TJ White, Gabriel Osenda, Jamyan Theodore, Carter Gooden, Ed Baker and Hezekiah Harris. None of them were credited with statistics.
Defensive end Kedric Golston II sat out again because of injury, marking his second straight missed game after playing in Tennessee’s first four. Meanwhile, Tyreek King, Darryl Rivers, KJ McClain and punter Logan Foley were on the travel roster but did not play.
Through Saturday, Tennessee’s freshman class has already spread across the depth chart. Finch leads the group in usage with 84 snaps, followed by Wolf with 72 and Keys with 59. The rest of the freshmen who have played this season include Gabriel Osenda, TJ White, Joel Wyatt, Carter Gooden, Brayden Rouse, Breeze Carter, Dereon Albert, Tyreek King, Hezekiah Harris, Kedric Golston II, Darryl Rivers, KJ McClain, Ed Baker, Jamyan Theodore, Jeremy George-El and Nuk Simmons.
There are also 11 freshmen who have yet to see game action for the Vols this season. That list includes four-star tackle Kamari Blair, four-star edge Zach Groves, four-star cornerback Zay Anderson, three-star edge CJ Edwards, three-star cornerback Javonte Smith, three-star safety Jowell Combay, three-star athlete Luke Thompson, three-star running back Will Rajecki, three-star wide receiver JaColby Cooper, three-star wide receiver Brayden Carroll and three-star offensive tackle Thomas Storm.
In Other News...
Vols Grind Out Road Win As One Arkansas Moment Steals Attention
Tennessees trip to Fayetteville ended with a 24-17 win over Arkansas, a result that steadied the Volunteers after a road battle that never really let either side get comfortable. The victory pushed Tennessee to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in SEC play, while Arkansas slipped to 2-4 and 0-3 in conference action, leaving the Razorbacks searching for answers after another tough league loss.
The football itself had plenty to discuss, but one camera shot from the afternoon quickly took on a life of its own and became part of the conversation around the game. For Tennessee, the bigger takeaway is that a hard-fought road win can travel well in October, especially in a league where every possession seems to matter and where the Volunteers are still trying to sort out who they are as the season moves deeper into SEC play. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Defense Could Catch A Huge Break Against Alabama
Alabamas offensive line picture has become a little murkier heading into the Tennessee matchup after center Racin Delgatty went down with a lower-body injury in a recent game. His status for Saturday is still uncertain, and that matters for a Volunteers defense looking to keep pressure on a Crimson Tide front that may have to adjust on the fly.
If Delgatty is sidelined, Alabama would likely turn to backup Mal Waldrep in the middle, a spot Tennessee will be watching closely. Xavier Gilliam has been one of the Vols more reliable defensive players this season, and any instability up front could give him and the rest of the defense a better chance to win key snaps in the trenches. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Alabama Just Got Even Bigger In Knoxville
The buildup around Tennessees showdown with Alabama just picked up another layer, with SEC Nation set to spend Saturday morning in Knoxville before the Vols and Crimson Tide kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. The pregame show will air from 9 a.m. to noon on SEC Network, giving the campus a full-day spotlight ahead of one of the seasons biggest SEC matchups.
The setting should feel as big as the stakes, with Neyland Stadium already sold out and fans expected to pour in early for a rare chance to make a long Saturday of it. Tennessee is also sweetening the game-day experience with half-price concessions for the first hour after gates open, which figures to help fuel the kind of atmosphere the Vols hope to ride once the broadcast lights move from campus to the stadium. [Read more 🡒]