MISSING PIECES
Tennessee began spring practice last month with a long list of absent players, and it grew during the course of the past 14 practices. Many of the players missed all of spring practice due to offseason surgeries to clean up injuries from last season, but eight were hurt during the spring. Here’s a full list of the players Tennessee will be without — more could be held out or have their workloads limited significantly for precautionary reasons — for the Orange & White Game today at Neyland Stadium.DE Derek BarnettLB Dillon BatesS Evan BerryDE Andrew ButcherS Stephen GriffinOT Chance HallWR Jauan JenningsDT Alexis Johnson*QB Sheriron JonesWR Josh MaloneDE Dimarya MixonWR Vincent PerryDE Kyle PhillipsLB Jalen Reeves-MaybinOG Jashon RobertsonDE Austin SmithTE Joe StockstillDT Shy TuttleDT Kendal VickersRB Joe Young* Johnson remains suspended from the team following his arrest in February.
KNOXVILLE – The Tennessee football team on display at Neyland Stadium this afternoon will be a shell of the one the Volunteers will have when the season kicks off in 20 weeks.
That doesn’t diminish the importance of the Orange & White Game weekend for the Volunteers.
The annual spring-ending showcase presents the program an opportunity to reunite hundreds of former players, host dozens of quality recruits and put on a show for however many fans head to Neyland Stadium to get a last glimpse of the Vols until August.
In what will be more of an open practice than a game, fourth-year head coach Butch Jones will show his showman side to fans and recruits in attendance, while the players have one final chance to put a stamp on spring practice.