Let’s face it. Tennessee’s offensive backfield is a wreck.
In the Vols’ participation report, which was released on Wednesday night, starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava is listed as “questionable” as he recovers from a banged-up shoulder and, more importantly, a concussion that could end up sidelining him when the No. 7 Vols take on No. 12 Georgia in Athens at 7:30 p.m. EST on Saturday.
Then, there’s the running back position. The Vols’ primary back-up running back, DeSean Bishop, has been ruled out of the Georgia game with a lower-body injury. Starting tailback Dylan Sampson wasn’t listed on the injury report, but he was knocked out of the Mississippi State game on Saturday with a lower-body injury. That means two things for the Vols.
First, if Iamaleava can’t play – or is limited – against Georgia, the Vols will have to rely on their stout running game. Second, Sampson could use some help. He can’t be expected to handle the entire rushing load against a physical Bulldog defense that ranks sixth in the SEC in rushing yards allowed at 111 yards per game. Simply put, Sampson will need some help on Saturday. That leaves the Vols with two options now that Bishop is sidelined.
Freshman tailback Peyton Lewis would likely be the first player off the bench when Sampson needs a break. That has been the case recently and will likely continue on Saturday. Lewis has gone from a red-shirt candidate to a player that is in dire need if the Vols are going to make the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff.
Lewis rang up a career high 14 carries and 44 yards for the Vols in their win over Mississippi State on Saturday. He also handled one kickoff return for 31 yards. Lewis scored his first career touchdown the week before in the Vols’ win over Kentucky as he ran the ball eight times for 24 yards.
Lewis has seemingly surpassed sophomore Cameron Seldon as the Vols’ primary back-up tailback to Sampson. Seldon was the go-to guy before the last couple of weeks as the Vols have turned to Lewis whenever Sampson needed a break or was knocked out of the game.
“The number one deal is is the focus portion of it,” running back coach De’Rail Sims said of Lewis’ ascension up the depth chart. “Doing your job, not letting the crowd affect you. Understand that I got to be locked in on what my assignment is on this play.
“Understanding what the physicality, especially in this league, is going to be like on the road in terms of how I’ve got to go in there, attack, how I’ve got to go in there and fit.
“Those are things that he’s done a good job of up until this point. But just understanding. Don’t let that become bigger than what it is. Just concentrate on doing your job and then you’ll be okay.”
So where does that leave Seldon, who could only be a snap away from being the Vols’ main back-up or, in a worst-case scenario, being the Tennessee’s first-string tailback.
“He’s growing every day,” Sims said of the athletic player, who is probably a bit lacking when it comes to natural running back instincts. “He had his setbacks earlier and kind of in the season, but I think with him his development is good. You see him getting comfortable again. You see him getting into games right now, he’s getting comfortable.
“He’s maximizing his reps that he’s getting right now. We’re going to need everybody in that room as the season continues to progress and kind of roll along. So the No. 1 deal is continue to keep attacking this deal one day at a time. And then seeing how your role progresses throughout the games.”
Whoever is in the backfield for the Vols, they’ll have to face a raucous crowd in Sanford Stadium. Tennessee didn’t react well to that sort of environment in 2022 when they got off to a bad start and lost a rather one-sided game against the Bulldogs 27-13 and never got going on offense when the crowd was at its frenetic heights.
“Attention to detail,” Sims said when asked what the key to overcoming the crowd will be on Saturday. “Make sure I’m focusing on doing my job and you can’t make it bigger than what it is. It’s the same situation when we’re playing at home. Our home field advantage, in terms of our crowd, is really, really good, so when you go on the road, you kind of expect that same situation.”
In all fairness to Sims, that’s not really true. The Vols don’t face near the noise in Neyland Stadium when they have the ball that they’ll face on Saturday. If they don’t react better than they did last time around in Athens, the Vols will get wrecked against the Bulldogs.
