Tennessee will be without one of its most steady offensive linemen on Saturday.
Nic Moore showed up as “OUT” on the Vols’ Thursday night SEC Availability Report for the matchup with Texas A&M, a surprise after he wasn’t listed at all on Wednesday. The starting left guard has become a reliable piece of Tennessee’s front and has settled into the lineup after working his way into the job.
Moore, a sophomore from Jefferson County High School in Talbott, TN, opened the season at center against Furman when Sam Pendleton was unavailable. He didn’t play against Georgia Tech, then logged rotational snaps against Kennesaw State. After sitting out against Texas, he moved into the starting left guard spot the next week against Auburn and kept that role from there, performing well each week.
His best outing of the season, according to Pro Football Focus, came against Kentucky. Moore posted a 75.5 overall grade, including an 83.5 mark in pass protection and a 74.0 grade in run blocking.
Now Tennessee has to patch a hole on the left side of the line. One possibility is sliding Sham Umarov back into the spot after Moore beat him out for the job earlier in the season. Another, more involved option would be to move Donovan Haslam from right guard to left guard, shift Jesse Perry from right tackle to right guard, and insert LSU transfer Ory Williams at right tackle.
The left guard job first opened when Wendell Moe Jr. suffered a season-ending injury against Texas in late September.
Moore’s absence is not expected to completely alter Tennessee’s outlook, but it is still a setback for a unit that has benefited from his recent play. He also won’t get the chance to build on his season-best performance from last week against Kentucky.
Texas A&M (4-5) will host No. 8 Tennessee (7-2) at 3:00 p.m. ET on Saturday at Kyle Field in College Station, TX.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Tennessee Just Made A Strong New Push For Four-Star DL RJ Wyms
Tennessees 28-point win over Kentucky gave the Volunteers plenty to feel good about on the field, but it also served as a showcase for one of the programs biggest recruiting targets. Four-star defensive lineman RJ Wyms was in the stands for his first Tennessee football game day, getting a firsthand look at a defense that kept Kentucky to just 6 points in the first half and none after halftime.
Wyms came away with positive impressions of the Volunteers defensive performance and the coaching staff, and his connection with Rodney Garner remains a key part of the picture. He is still working through the rest of his recruitment and is considering visits to other schools, so Tennessee has made a strong impression without closing the door on a longer process. [Read more 🡒]