Officials discuss a targeting call against UT’s Jalen Reeves-Maybin in the game against Appalachian State Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 in Neyland Stadium.KNOXVILLE – Tennessee’s overtime survival of Appalachian State came with one of its star defensive players missing for more than three quarters.
Jalen Reeves-Maybin, the team’s leading tackler the past two seasons, was ejected in the first quarter after he was flagged for a targeting penalty in punt coverage.
“I’m really interested to see it,” Tennessee coach Butch Jones said. “I’ve had a number of calls from coaches already – that’s why I was a little bit late – and they thought it was a 50-50 (call). I’m all for player safety, first and foremost, but it was a strange play to begin with because the returner called for a fair catch right when the ball was kicked.
“Here’s a young man trying to make a play, and he’s trying to play hard. I’m all for player safety, but this is a senior that’s trying to give his all and play hard. I hope there was discretion, and it’s reviewable, so I trust they’ll get it right. They better have. That’s kind of where I’m at.”
Tennessee was punting on its second position with Appalachian State leading 7-3 in the first quarter when Reeves-Maybin was the first player down the field to greet return man Jaquil Capel.
As Capel, who didn’t appear to signal clearly for a fair catch, knelt to catch the ball, Reeves-Maybin senior met him with his helmet and shoulder.
The targeting call was upheld and the Vols lost arguably their most important defensive player, though Reeves-Maybin won’t have to sit any of Tennessee’s next game against Virginia Tech because his ejection came in the first half.
Junior Cortez McDowell, Reeves-Maybin’s understudy for three years and one of Tennessee’s best special teams players, replaced the captain and went the rest of the way.
McDowell shared the team lead in tackles (nine).
“I had to go in and fill that role,” McDowell said. “I had to make the guys to my left and my right, the D-line and the back-end guys, I had to prove to them that I can step in and contribute at any time of the game. I really just did everything out there on the field for the other 10 guys that were out there on the field with me.”
Jones also was miffed by what he viewed as a questionable decision by the officials in the second quarter, when Jalen Hurd was nearly done with a run into the red zone when referee Marc Curles blew the play dead and indicated the replay booth buzzed down to review Josh Smith’s 29-yard catch.
The reception was overturned, and quarterback Josh Dobbs tossed an interception to ruin any chance Tennessee had of scoring before halftime.
Personnel notes
Defensive end LaTroy Lewis and nickel cornerback Malik Foreman earned starts, though both Corey Vereen and Rashaan Gaulden rotated in at those respective positions.
The deep rotation along the defensive line never materialized, though, as neither Shy Tuttle nor Alexis Johnson played after both defensive tackles went through warmups.
Junior college transfer Jonathan Kongbo debuted as an inside rusher on passing downs.
Croom doesn’t play
Tennessee was without tight end Jason Croom due to an undisclosed injury. The converted wide receiver appeared fine in practice during the week and showed no signs of dealing with any health issues. The SEC Network on Wednesday night reported Croom was dealing with a hip injury.
With Croom out the Vols mainly stayed away from two-tight-end sets, though when Tennessee did use those formations Eli Wolf, a redshirt freshman walk-on, joined older brother Ethan as the two tight ends.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com