Tennessee releases Wednesday availability report

Tennessee enters the final game of the regular season with little doubt about who’s available from an injury standpoint.  The Vols released their first SEC availability report ahead of Saturday home finale — a match up Vanderbilt.  The Vols (8-3, 4-3 SEC) and the Commodores  (9-2, 5-2) Saturday afternoon are scheduled for a 3:30 start on ESPN at Neyland Stadium.

Player	Position	Wednesday
Peyton Lewis	Running Back	Questionable
Jordan Ross	LEO	Questionable
Sidney Walton	Safety	Out
Miles Kitselman	Tight End	Out
Rickey Gibson	Cornerback	Out
Jermod McCoy	Cornerback	Out

Offensive guard Wendell Moe was dressed Saturday night at Florida and was available in an emergency role. Moe was not called upon to play. Moe’s knee is a week better and he is available if needed. 

Running back Peyton Lewis missed last week’s game with an ankle injury. Tennessee’s DeSean Bishop got the line share of the work with a career high 24 carries. Lewis remains questionable for Saturday’s match up with Vanderbilt.

Senior tight end Miles Kitselman remains out. Kitselman injured his knee in the third quarter of a 42-9 win over New Mexico State and missed last week’s game against Florida. 

The injury report will be updated again Thursday night, Friday night, then one final time 90 minutes before Saturday night’s kickoff. 

At the tight end position, the Vols turned to Ethan Davis a week ago and the Georgia native responded with his best night as a Vol. Davis had 5 catches for 72 yards and a touchdown.

“I mean, he’s ready to play – kind of goes back to being functional versus being dominant,” tight ends coach Alec Abeln said. “Obviously, had a pass protection sack on Saturday and that really just comes down to a day one fundamental that I trust him in all those situations. He’s got to go continue to execute it. But I think the challenge is, man, you can play with him and ask him to do anything we’re going to ask him to do. It’s just about not just being able to do it but being able to be dominant while we’re doing it – I think is the next step.”

Of course, Tennessee will be without Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson who have missed the entire season due to injury. 

Will Tennessee continue to play some three linebacker sets?

With he dismissal of Boo Carter, Tennessee is thin at the nickel position. Jalen McMurray has been the starter there all season. Last week at Florida, to help manage the lack of depth as well as matching up against Florida’s offense, Tennessee played a traditional 4-3 defense with Arion Carter, Edwin Spillman and Jeremiah Telander on the field at the same time. The trio combined for 23 tackles including 2.5 for loss. 

“We have been working on that,” Heupel said. “That’s a part of our package. Obviously, we are thinner at a certain spot right now than we were (Boo Carter dismissal). Ultimately we felt like in certain personnel groupings, certain situations we had the opportunity to be bigger and not let it hinder us in what we wanted to do against defending the pass.”

The question is can Tennessee deploy that same look Saturday afternoon against a much more explosive Vanderbilt attack.