Shy Tuttle entered his first preseason camp with the Tennessee Volunteers with an edge over most freshmen, thanks to his participation in spring practice after enrolling early.KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee freshman defensive tackle Shy Tuttle will miss the rest of the season after suffering a broken fibula and torn ankle ligaments against Georgia on Saturday.
"That's a big, big blow to our football team," Volunteers coach Butch Jones said at his press conference on Wednesday afternoon. "I love everything about Shy Tuttle. I thought he was continuing to progress and get better and better and better and really had developed into one of our playmakers on defense."
That defense already was without defensive end/linebacker Curt Maggitt (hip) and nickel cornerback Rashaan Gaulden (foot).
Tuttle suffered the injury during the fourth quarter when he was chasing a running play that spilled out wide toward the sideline and Bulldogs center Brandon Kublanow dove at the back of his leg, forcing Tuttle to land awkwardly on his left leg.
The 6-foot-2, 311-pounder hobbled part of the way off the field, but he put no weight on his leg as trainers helped him the rest of the way to the sideline and left the stadium on crutches.
Tuttle and fellow freshman Kahlil McKenzie had been coming on in recent weeks, so losing Tuttle is a significant loss for the Vols, who now will rely on a four-man rotation at tackle with McKenzie, Owen Williams, Danny O'Brien and Kendal Vickers.
Jones indicated freshman Quay Picou could be a fifth option, but Tennessee also may look at sliding Dimarya Mixon or Kyle Phillips down from defensive end.
"That'll be ongoing to see who can step up into that fifth spot," he said. "We're very, very limited there. Our health is going to be critical. We're going to play the guys that have played, but we'll continue to work through that in this week of practice.
"That's an area in recruitment," Jones added, "that we've got to continue to grow and develop."
FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, file photo, South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier, left, and LSU head coach Les Miles shake hands after an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La. LSU won 45-24. Spurrier is retiring in the middle of his 11th season with South Carolina, sources confirmed. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman, File) Jones talks Spurrier
Jones may be in only his third year as an SEC coach, but he's well aware of the impact Steve Spurrier had on the league during his tenures at Florida and South Carolina.
Spurrier announced late Monday night he would retire effective immediately.
"He's a living legend," Jones said. "He's brought so much to the coaching profession, he's brought so much to the game of football and he's brought so much to the Southeastern Conference. I've really enjoyed the last couple of years having the opportunity to compete against a legend.
"I have the utmost respect for him."
Jones won both of his head-to-head meetings with Spurrier and South Carolina, but his memories of the "Head Ball Coach" go back much further.
Tennessee's coach grew up a fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and remembers watching Spurrier play for them back in the 1970s, and he also recalled talking with Spurrier about his days coaching the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL in the 1980s.
Jones said his wife, Barb, was cleaning up the basement of their house and found a framed program Spurrier had signed for Jones.
"The many nights that him and I spent together in Destin at the SEC (spring) meetings and hanging out and talking football and just talking -- those are some of the most rewarding interactions I've had," Jones said.
"He was very healthy for our conference, I know y'all in the media loved him because you never knew what was coming next, and that's part of the aura of Steve Spurrier."
Injury update
Tennessee will use its open date this week to improve the health of its team.
Jones said he fully anticipates offensive linemen Jashon Robertson (ankle), Mack Crowder (ankle) and Brett Kendrick (elbow) to return in time for the Alabama game.
Wide receiver Marquez North (back) will practice today, though Jones said the Vols will hold some players out of practice for precautionary reasons.
Jones also said the Vols would try to get Jason Croom (knee) into some individual periods in practice this week as he works his way back.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.