Tennessee’s offense took a major hit Monday, with head coach Josh Heupel saying tight end Ethan Davis is done for the season after suffering an ACL injury.
Davis had quickly become one of Faizon Brandon’s most reliable options early on, scoring the first touchdown in each of Tennessee’s first two games. Through those contests, he logged three catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns.
His absence leaves the Vols without their most established tight end. Davis entered the year as the clear top option at the position because of his experience, and he backed that up with a productive 2025 season behind Miles Kitselman.
In nine games last year, he finished with 21 receptions for 257 yards and two touchdowns. He also made noticeable progress as a blocker, and some of his strongest receiving performances came when Kitselman was out against Florida and Vanderbilt.
Now Tennessee has to lean on a thinner, less experienced group. Sophomore DaSaahn Brame and South Alabama transfer Trent Thomas have handled most of the snaps behind Davis so far. Brame brings more of a pass-catching profile, though he has taken steps as a blocker, while Thomas is an important part of the run game as a lead blocker.
Freshman Luca Wolf and returner Cole Harrison could also see their roles grow. Neither has played much this season, but both were singled out during the preseason.
Tennessee’s next test comes Saturday night against Kennesaw State. The Vols will host the Owls, and former position coach Jerry Mack, at 7:45 p.m.
ET on SEC Network. FanDuel listed Tennessee as a 35.5-point favorite as of Sunday morning.
The money line does not offer a bet on the Vols, but Kennesaw State is available at +5500.
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Tennessee Just Took Another Brutal Hit At A Key Offensive Spot
Tennessees offense has taken another hit at a spot that matters in both the passing game and the run game, with head coach Josh Heupel confirming that starting tight end Ethan Davis suffered a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the season. Davis had been part of the Vols plan at the position, and his absence adds to an injury list that keeps growing at a bad time for the offense.
With Davis out, Tennessee is expected to lean more heavily on younger options such as DaSaahn Brame and Trent Thomas to handle the tight end role. That puts more pressure on a group that now has to absorb a significant workload shift while the Vols try to keep the offense on track without one of its established pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiah Telander Said What Tennessee Fans Wanted To Hear After That Win
After Tennessees 45-24 road win over Georgia Tech, Jeremiah Telander had every reason to feel good about the start of the season, and he sounded like a player who knew exactly what the performance meant. The linebacker turned in a productive afternoon with three tackles, a sack and an interception, then used his time with the media to point to the way the Volunteers handled the game and the impact of the freshman quarterback in his first big outing.
Telander also touched on the shift in his own defensive role, which has been part of the early-season adjustment for Tennessees defense. Even with the convincing victory in hand, he kept the focus on progress and the details the Vols still need to clean up, a familiar message but one that carries more weight when it comes after a road win against a Power Four opponent. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee May Be Getting A Needed Defensive Line Boost Just In Time
Tennessee is starting to get some encouraging news in the trenches at a good time. Josh Heupel said several defensive linemen who were banged up in preseason and the early part of the season are expected to be closer to full strength for the upcoming game against Kennesaw State, a welcome development for a group that has been dealing with uneven availability.
Freshman defensive tackle JJ Finch, who missed the previous game because of injury, is expected to be ready to play. Senior Daevin Hobbs and sophomores Isaiah Campbell and Ethan Utley have also worked back after dealing with their own setbacks, giving the Vols a chance to restore some depth and stability up front as the schedule continues to move forward. [Read more 🡒]