Tennessee’s running back contingent for Thursday night’s season opener against Bowling Green inside Neyland Stadium will not include Tee Hodge.
On the doorstep of the Josh Heupel era beginning for the Volunteers, the 6-foot-1, 218-pounder from Maryville decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal. Hodge played in one game last season, on special teams during the 34-7 home loss to Kentucky.
Hodge was a three-star member of Tennessee’s 2020 signing class after rushing for 1,006 yards and 7.1 yards per carry for Maryville’s 15-0 Class 6A state championship team in 2019. He is the nephew of former Kentucky standout and current Green Bay Packers receiver Randall Cobb.
Tennessee is not lacking for bodies at running back, with Vols offensive coordinator Alex Golesh admitting last week that five or six needed to be in the mix. Sophomore Jabari Small and junior-college transfer Tiyon Evans are expected to be the top two running backs entering the opener.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524. Follow him on Twitter @DavidSPaschall.