Tennessee’s availability list took another hit before kickoff at Texas A&M, and this one comes from a player who had carved out a real role on the defensive front. Rotational interior defensive lineman JJ Finch has been ruled out for the game, adding another late setback for the Vols.
According to VolQuest, Finch is out because of illness. He wasn’t listed on the availability report during the week, then popped up on the game-day report that is released an hour and a half before kickoff.
For Tennessee, the loss stings because Finch has already outperformed the expectations that came with his recruiting profile. A signing-day flip from Alabama, he arrived as a three-star prospect but quickly earned snaps in the rotation. Through eight games, he has logged 130 snaps and posted 5 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and no sacks.
Finch is from Indianapolis, Indiana, where he played at Warren Central. Rivals Industry Rankings had him as the No. 52 defensive line prospect in the country, while 247Sports Composite placed him at No. 50.
His absence is only the latest issue for a Tennessee team already dealing with a long injury list. The Vols have nine players ruled out for the season, including starters Ethan Davis at tight end, Wendell Moe Jr. at offensive guard and Tyree Weathersby at defensive end. Edrees Farooq was also expected to start at safety before his preseason injury.
The season-ending list also includes cornerback Jaidas Richard, wide receiver Joakim Dodson, linebacker Jaedon Harmon, defensive back Dylan Lewis and running back Daune Morris. Morris was hurt in an overnight, one-car accident and will miss the rest of the year.
Tennessee also lost starting left guard Nic Moore on Thursday. He had stepped in for Moe, but he too is unavailable for this game.
And the roster issues haven’t been the only complication. The Vols’ flight was delayed Friday because of a national stoppage, and the team didn’t arrive until late Friday night.
Kickoff for Tennessee and Texas A&M is set for 3 p.m. ET and 2 p.m. CT on ESPN.
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An LSU win would do more than just add another ranked victory to the conference ledger. It would strengthen the Tigers' standing as an opponent and help clear some of the clutter in the SEC standings, which is exactly the kind of help Tennessee could use as it tries to keep its own playoff hopes and conference math in order. [Read more 🡒]