Tennessee's Marquez North carries against Arkansas State.KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee coach Butch Jones expects two pieces of the Volunteers' offense to return to practice today.
Receiver Marquez North (shoulder) and tailback Marlin Lane (leg) should be back at practice later today, Jones said on the SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday.
North did not have a catch in last week's overtime win at South Carolina, and Lane left the game in the third quarter after a defender tackling him rolled up on his legs and left the stadium on crutches.
"Marlin Lane is back practicing," Jones said, "and we really were concerned that it was a very significant injury Saturday night, but he'll be going through practice today. Marquez North will be participating in practice today.
"We fully anticipate having them next week."
The Vols have an open date this Saturday before a visit from Kentucky on Nov. 15 (4 p.m., SEC Network).
The sophomore North is second on the team in receptions (30) and receiving yards (320) behind Pig Howard, who caught five passes for 109 yards at South Carolina, and Lane has run for 223 yards on 57 carries -- 77 less than freshman leading rushing Jalen hurd -- during an injury-riddled senior season.
Opting for OT
Jones said he never considered going for a two-point conversion and a win in regulation after Tennessee pulled to within a point of the Gamecocks when Josh Dobbs hit Jason Croom for a 9-yard touchdown with 11 seconds left.
"It was all about overtime. We've trained for that situation starting in spring football and training camp, and we had worked ourselves into a position to finish the game in overtime. Going for two was never a point."
It was Tennessee's first road win against an SEC other than Kentucky or Vanderbilt since a victory at Mississippi State in 2007. The Vols won in Lexington in 2013, 2009 and 2007 and in Nasville in 2010 and 2008.
"Their resiliency was finally rewarded. You can talk about it all the time, but after a while they need some evidence. They received some evidence Saturday night. They were rewarded for their resiliency and their perseverance.
"A lot of great things in moving forward. Now, what do we make of it? We're going to be faced with a very, very talented, very physical, very determined Kentucky team coming in here. What do we do with it and how do we take advantage of this bye week?"
Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) takes off on a fourth-down play, with seconds left on the clock, to score a 36-yard touchdown at South Carolina last Saturday.Dobbs talk
As expected, Jones took some questions about Dobbs during his 10-minute stay on the teleconference.
Tennessee's second-year coach said the four-and-a-half games Dobbs played as a freshman at the end of the 2013 season have helped him play better in a similar spot this season.
"I think that's really helped his confidence," Jones said. "He's a very poised young man, and our football team believes in him. I do think he's relying on the experiences he was able to gain last. I think it's really benefited him.
"I still think he has a lot of room for growth and maturity from a physicality standpoint of the weight room. We've really challenged him in terms of his accuracy of throwing the football (with) just a very high level of consistency each and every day, which we take great pride in. He's got a lot of room for growth."