Tennessee will be without running back Daune Morris for Saturday’s trip to Texas A&M after he was involved in a car accident Thursday night, according to On3. Morris injured his leg in the crash, and 247’s Matt Zenitz reports the setback is expected to end his season.
The loss comes at a bad time for the Vols, who had leaned on Morris as the clear No. 2 option behind DeSean Bishop. Bishop, a Heisman Trophy hopeful, has handled most of the workload at running back this season, but Morris had become a steady part of the offense and the next man up whenever Tennessee needed another spark.
Morris, a sophomore, has totaled 66 carries for 434 yards and three touchdowns this season. He has also added six catches for 35 yards.
His latest outing may have been his best. Against Kentucky, Morris carried the ball only five times but turned that into 85 yards and a touchdown, including a 66-yard score in the first quarter for the game’s first touchdown.
“Seeing Daune get in there and do what he does, man, that was really good,” Vols running backs coach De’Rails Sims said on Tuesday. “Like you could tell early on, as soon as he stuck his foot in the ground, you knew he was gone.
So I think that was huge entirely for us, as a whole entire team. That was really good for him and his confidence as he’s done that.
So I think, like, seeing him get out there and do what he does, that was awesome.”
With Morris sidelined, Tennessee is expected to lean more heavily on Javin Gordon. The sophomore is in his first season with the Vols after transferring from Tulane, and he had already been part of the rotation earlier in the year before an injury slowed him down. Gordon has 28 carries for 129 yards and no touchdowns this season.
In Other News...
Tennessee Suddenly Has An O-Line Problem Before Texas A&M
Tennessees offensive line took an unexpected hit Thursday night when starting left guard Nic Moore appeared on the SEC Availability Report as out after not being listed the day before. Moore has been a productive presence at left guard, so his sudden absence adds a real layer of uncertainty heading into a matchup with Texas A&M, where protecting the pocket and keeping the run game on schedule will matter plenty.
The Volunteers are now weighing lineup adjustments to cover the vacancy on the interior, and that kind of shuffle can ripple through the whole front five. For a team trying to stay steady in a conference game of this size, losing a reliable starter at the last minute is the sort of problem that can force changes in both communication and chemistry up front. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Just Got Pulled Into Oklahomas Coaching Drama
Oklahomas uneven season has stirred up the kind of coaching chatter that always seems to follow a blueblood when the wins dont come easily. The Sooners are 5-4 through nine games, but Brent Venables still has the backing that came with the six-year extension he signed in August, and the program has already shown a willingness to adjust on the fly by changing play-caller duties during the season. Under Jason Wittens guidance, Oklahoma also picked up a notable win over No. 24 Florida, a reminder that the conversation around the program is more complicated than a simple hot-seat debate.
For Tennessee fans, the interesting part is not the Sooners record so much as the way the coaching rumor mill inevitably reaches into other programs. Josh Heupels name has surfaced as a possible fallback candidate in the broader speculation, even if there is nothing concrete tying him to Oklahoma or suggesting any movement away from Knoxville. It is the kind of cross-country noise that comes with success, and for the Vols it is another sign that Heupels profile keeps rising well beyond the SEC East. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Heads Into Texas A&M With A New Concern Up Front
Tennessees trip to Kyle Field brings the usual SEC road-test pressure, but the Volunteers are also dealing with a fresh issue up front. Starting left guard Nic Moore is out because of injury, a notable blow for an offensive line that already has to handle one of the leagues toughest environments, while defensive lineman Tyree Weathersby is also sidelined.
There is at least one bit of good news for Tennessee with tight end DaSaahn Brame available, but the availability report on both sides still matters as kickoff approaches. Texas A&M has its own list of concerns, including wide receivers Terry Bussey and Kelshaun Johnson and offensive lineman Trovon Baugh, leaving both teams to sort through personnel questions before a game that could hinge on who is healthiest in the trenches. [Read more 🡒]