KNOXVILLE – The news that Trey Smith will once again be sidelined after doctors discovered blood clots in his lungs is devastating for the Tennessee sophomore offensive lineman and clearly a blow to the team’s overall talent.
But as the Volunteers (3-4, 1-3 Southeastern Conference) prepare to play at South Carolina (3-3, 2-3), the loss of their starting left tackle could be an emotional rallying point.
Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt and his players have not spoken with media since the program announced Thursday that Smith will be out “indefinitely,” with Pruitt’s comments on the matter that day coming via a released statement. It’s fair to assume, however, the Vols will play with Smith on their minds as they try to win their second conference road game of the month when they take on the Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium at 7:30 Saturday night.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for us,” Pruitt said earlier this week. “It’s a hard place to win, in Columbia, especially at night. It’s a tremendous challenge for our team moving forward.”
A nighttime loss at South Carolina in 2016 derailed Butch Jones’ tenure as Tennessee’s coach. Two years before that, the Vols won a thrilling night game in Columbia in overtime after quarterback Joshua Dobbs rallied Tennessee late. That victory fueled hope for Jones’ tenure as coach and helped the Vols reach a bowl game.
This year’s contest appears similarly vital to Tennessee’s hopes of playing beyond the regular season. The Vols must win three of their final five games if they wish to gain bowl eligibility.
Aside from Smith’s absence and the shuffle to replace him, here are some questions to ponder as game time approaches.
Will the first half be scoreless?
Both teams are developing a reputation for starting slow. Opponents have outscored South Carolina 60-17 in the Gamecocks’ past three first halves. Tennessee has been outscored 69-3 in the first quarter of its five games against Power Five conference opponents this season.
Pruitt scoffed at a question this week about potential changes to his team’s pregame routine.
“No, I bet you we did the same pregame routine as the last team we played,” Pruitt said, referencing Alabama, which outscored the Vols 28-0 in the first quarter. “But they haven’t had a problem. It’s not the routine, I can assure you.”
Is there a QB controversy?
Clearly, redshirt sophomore Jarrett Guarantano is respected by his teammates for his toughness and overall efficiency. However, backup Keller Chryst showed an ability to pick up blitzes against Alabama that kept him upright in an impressive relief effort last week after Guarantano was battered. Chryst, a graduate transfer from Stanford, threw a pair of second-quarter touchdown passes and was not sacked in the 58-21 loss to the Crimson Tide.
Pruitt glossed over a question about how the quarterback reps would be handled in practice this week, but it’s fair to wonder if Guarantano’s leash might be shorter now than at any point so far this season.
Can the Vols contain Deebo?
Star receiver Deebo Samuel led the Gamecocks with eight catches for 83 yards in the 2016 game against the Vols. With Tennessee’s secondary in flux due to injuries, containing Samuel will be especially paramount. Containing him in one-on-one coverage might be too much to ask of anybody on the Vols’ roster.
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidWCobb and on Facebook at facebook.com/volsupdate.