Tennessee’s first SEC availability report of the week brought a few expected names and a couple of notable ones, with the 14th-ranked Volunteers set to host No. 1 Texas on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville.
The conference opener for both teams is scheduled for Noon ET, and the Wednesday night report gave the first real look at who may and may not be ready for the Top 15 matchup.
For Tennessee, four players were listed as out: tight end Ethan Davis, wide receiver Joakim Dodson, linebacker Jaedon Harmon, and defensive back Edrees Farooq. Defensive back Dylan Lewis also landed in the out category after suffering a foot injury against the Owls last weekend.
Two more Volunteers showed up as questionable: running back Javin Gordon and defensive lineman Nathan Robinson. Gordon had 10 carries in Tennessee’s games against Furman and Georgia Tech, but he did not play last weekend against Kennesaw State.
In that game, Daune Morris took on a much larger role in his absence. Robinson, meanwhile, was also out against Kennesaw State.
There were also a pair of encouraging omissions on Tennessee’s side. Running back DeSean Bishop and defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs were not on the report at all. Bishop was a little banged up last weekend, while Hobbs did not dress for the game, so their absence from the report is a good sign for Tennessee.
Texas’ report was shorter, but it included one important name. Defensive lineman Justus Terry, defensive back Xavier Filsaime, and offensive lineman Jordan Coleman were not listed with an injury designation, while tight end Nick Townsend was doubtful.
The big question for the Longhorns is running back Hollywood Smothers, who was listed as questionable. Smothers was a major portal addition for Texas in the offseason and has already made an impact this year. The 5-foot-11 back has 41 carries for 198 yards and two touchdowns in three games.
Edge Colin Simmons was listed as probable. Simmons is one of the top defensive linemen in the country, and Texas appears on track to have him available after he was pulled from the UTSA game last weekend as a precaution.
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Rick Barnes Just Added More Emotion To Tennessee Vs Texas
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Barnes also took a moment to praise the athletic directors at both schools, underscoring that this is a meeting with real personal weight for him even if it is just another game on the schedule. Still, once the ball goes up, his focus is on Tennessee and the program he now leads, which only adds another layer of emotion to a matchup already carrying plenty of it. [Read more 🡒]