Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) eludes Alabama’s Jonathan Allen (93) as he heads downfield. INJURY UPDATES
Tennessee will be even more depleted on defense.
Linebackers Darrin Kirkland Jr. and Cortez McDowell and cornerback Malik Foreman are all OUT for the Volunteers against Alabama.
Look for Colton Jumper and Elliott Berry to start at linebacker.
On offense starting center Dylan Wiesman is out, but left guard Jashon Robertson is warming up, though redshirt freshman Venzell Boulware is in line to start at left guard alongside Coleman Thomas, who will replace Wiesman.
The Vols lost another defensive starter earlier in the week when defensive tackle Danny O’Brien was dismissed for violating team rules, and the decision of Preston Williams to transfer further shortened Tennessee’s depth at wide receiver.
BACKGROUND READING
*Tennessee’s decimated defense is so banged up by injuries, “everyone’s on call”
*Vols could turn to Coleman Thomas and/or Venzell Boulware on its offensive line
*Freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts showed impressive poise in Alabama’s past two SEC road games
*Shy Tuttle and Kahlil McKenzie set for bigger roles on Tennessee’s defensive line
*Jalen Hurd “ready to go” for Tide after missing Texas A&M trip
*Tide have full respect for improved Vols: “They know how to win football games”
*Once destined for defense, Vols’ freshman Tyler Byrd starting to thrive in wide receiver role
*Tennessee’s offense proved it can be ‘explosive,’ but turnovers are a huge issue
*Vols were ‘perplexed’ by the ‘sudden’ dismissal of fifth-year defensive tackle Danny O’Brien
*Alabama expecting ‘dogfight’ from resilient, ‘four-quarter’ Vols
*Big plays remain the primary issue for Tennessee’s defense
*What will Alvin Kamara do as an encore for his ‘pretty big statement’ game at Texas A&M?
Tweets by @DavidSPaschall