KNOXVILLE – Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt expressed optimism his team’s offensive line would improve from its mediocre showing in Saturday’s season-opening loss to West Virginia as it continued to jell.
An injury to starting center Brandon Kennedy might set that process back.
Pruitt said Wednesday that Kennedy’s season is over due to an ACL injury. Tennessee hosts East Tennessee State University at 4 p.m. Saturday.
“It’s unfortunate for him,” Pruitt said. “But that happens to people all over the country. It’s tough on these young men that pour a lot into it throughout the year to get an opportunity to play.”
Kennedy arrived at Tennessee this summer as a graduate transfer from Alabama and emerged early in preseason practices as the favorite to start at center. The redshirt junior’s first start in a college game came in the Volunteers’ 40-14 loss to West Virginia, and he was looking forward to his first game at Neyland Stadium.