Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava could have more pressure on him than ever before against Florida this week.
The Vols listed four receivers on their injury report, which was released late Wednesday evening. The good news for Tennessee is that most are still probable. That bad news is that Tennessee’s leading receiver in receiving yards and touchdowns is the one most likely not to play against the Gators on Saturday, per the report.
Wideout Dont’e Thornton is listed as “questionable” on the report. He left the Arkansas game limping in the third quarter. Thornton leads the Vols with 284 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns this season.
The Vols also listed receivers Bru McCoy and Squirrel White as “probable” for the Florida game. McCoy appeared to suffer a hand or wrist injury against the Razorbacks while White suffered an unknown upper-body injury. McCoy was seen with a wrap on his injured extremity after the game. White was wearing a sling after the game.
The injuries could cause serious concerns against Florida, especially if all three are hampered on Saturday in Neyland Stadium when the game kicks off at 7 EST. Although Tennessee regularly rotates its receivers, those three would have been considered first-team players in the Vols’ three-receiver formation. However, that go-to formation could change as early as this week, especially with the injuries at receiver.
The Vols could decide to play more of its 12-personnel, which consists of two tight ends, a running back and two receivers. That would seemingly help the Vols protect their offensive tackles, which struggled last week in a 19-14 loss to Arkansas and in Tennessee’s previous game, which was a 25-15 win over Oklahoma, in which the Vols were successful with their 12-personnel. However, adding another big body to the tackle box would have a subsequent effect.
If Tennessee coach Josh Heupel decides to run more 12-personnel, defenses would likely add another defender into the tackle box, which would make running the football more difficult. If the Vols choose to continue with a three-receiver formation, then Chris Brazzell II and Chas Nimrod could be a bigger part of the receiver rotation.
Brazzell has proven himself as an impactful player this season as he’s third among UT’s receivers with 13 receptions and 161 yards. Nimrod has four catches for 52 yards this season.
Tennessee defensive back Christian Harrison was also on the injury report, listed as “probable.” Freshman Boo Carter is Harrison’s most likely backup at the Vols’ hybrid defensive back/linebacker position, which is known as the Star. Both have played extensively this season.
