KNOXVILLE — No Cedric Tillman.
No problem.
Tennessee football fans woke up Saturday morning to the news that the fifth-year senior receiver who racked up 1,081 yards last season and amassed 162 yards earlier this month during the overtime win at Pittsburgh would be sidelined for the anticipated showdown against Florida due to his ankle injury last weekend against Akron.
The No. 11 Volunteers would handle his absence with ease, passing for 349 yards during the 38-33 outlasting of the No. 20 Gators.
"Our receivers put in a lot of work, as do our tight ends and running backs and the offensive line," sixth-year quarterback Hendon Hooker said. "One guy doesn't stop the show. They all have great things that they bring to the table, and they can play at a high level.
"They also can play with a chip on their shoulder when they have something to prove."
With Tillman watching Tennessee's second win over Florida in the past 18 tries wearing a jersey, shorts and a walking boot, redshirt junior Bru McCoy, senior Ramel Keyton and junior Jalin Hyatt combined on 13 catches for 229 yards and a touchdown. McCoy got the score, snagging that from a yard out with seven seconds left in the first half to put the Vols (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) ahead for good at 17-14.
Hyatt notched his first 100-yard game in the 63-6 thrashing of Akron, compiling five receptions for 166 yards, and Saturday was McCoy's turn. The Southern California transfer had five catches for 102 yards.
"Every day, we go out on the practice field and put in the work to get a job done," McCoy said. "You don't really think about anything more than the scheme and executing and doing what you need to do. We knew that there was going to be a lot that would fall on us and that we had to step up.
"Nothing really changed as far as the mindset. We stayed focused on what we needed to accomplish."
McCoy had the game's longest gain with his 70-yard reception that set up a 4-yard Hooker run that put Tennessee up 10-7, while Keyton may have produced the most exciting play by laying out for a 43-yard catch in the final minute of the half to set up McCoy's score.
"It's a team game," Vols coach Josh Heupel said. "We love Ced, and we recognize what he brings to the table, but if somebody goes down — no matter what the position or what unit he's on — there has to be a next-man-up mentality. I thought Ramel did a great job taking advantage of his opportunity.
"He made big plays, and he won his one-on-ones."
Heupel is hopeful of having Tillman back for the Oct. 8 trip to LSU, adding, "Nobody was happier in the locker room than Cedric was."
Tennessee Athletics photo / Tennessee receiver Ramel Keyton looks for running room during Saturday’s 38-33 win over Florida. Keyton finished with three catches for 69 yards on an offense that racked up 576 yards. Overwhelmed again
Saturday's atmosphere was the latest favorite atmosphere Heupel has experienced, and he loves that dozens of recruits were there to soak it in as well.
"When you look at our players over with our student body at the end of the game -- I've never seen a scene like that," Heupel said. "It's a huge part of the impression and the energy that recruits see and feel, and it's real and genuine.
"There are a lot of positive things going on right now inside of our building."
Small comes up big
Vols junior running back Jabari Small suffered an upper-body injury during his second carry against Akron and did not return, but he was used early and often against Florida (2-2, 0-2). The 5-foot-11, 213-pounder from Memphis rushed 19 times for 90 yards, including a 39-yard gain on the second play of the second half.
"I feel good," Small said. "I feel good because we got the W. I'll probably feel it tomorrow, but that 39-yard run definitely was a boost to my confidence."
Small knew he could play against the Gators after Monday's practice.
"I was nervous at first, because I didn't know how I would be able to run," he said. "Once I knew I could run and go, I told Coach, 'Don't hold me back.' I didn't know if I would have 10 or 20 touches or just be out there blocking.
"I just wanted to do my assignments to the best of my ability."
Small collected the first receiving touchdown of his career, notching a 16-yarder to culminate the same drive that contained his 39-yard run.
Defensive woes
The defensive issues that often plagued last season's team — most notably missed tackles by the secondary and third-down struggles — were present against the Gators. Florida was 7-of-15 on third-down conversions and 4-of-5 on fourth down.
"We have to go look at the film and get the small things corrected," sixth-year senior defensive lineman LaTrell Bumphus said. "If we can get the small things corrected, that can help us in the long run. I think we're prepared for those situations, because a lot of times in practice we'll do sudden change, whether that's a long conversion or a turnover."
Odds and ends
Tennessee is averaging 559.2 yards per game this season and 494.8 in the Heupel era. ... Hooker extended his program record to 212 consecutive passes without an interception, which ranks ninth in SEC history. ... Tennessee's inactive players in addition to Tillman were senior cornerback Warren Burrell, junior cornerback Dee Williams, redshirt junior linebacker Kwauze Garland and freshman running back Dylan Sampson.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.