Tennessee offensive lineman out for the year after suffering injury against Georgia

The injury bug keeps biting Tennessee football. Head coach Josh Heupel said during his weekly press conference on Monday that senior offensive guard Javontez Spraggins will miss the rest of the year after being injured in the 38-10 loss to No. 1 Georgia on Saturday.

The Vols (7-4, 3-4 SEC) end the regular-season schedule against Vanderbilt (2-9, 0-7) on Saturday (3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, SEC Network) on Senior Day at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.

“Sprags will be out the remainder of the season,” Heupel said. “Unfortunate injury to a guy that pours into his teammates. Has great energy, competes extremely hard, plays really hard, continue to get better as a player. And disappointed for him, certainly.”

Javontez Spraggins had started 36 straight games for the Vols at right guard

Tennessee entered the Georgia game already banged up on the offensive line, with both starting tackles out. Miami transfer John Campbell, the normal starter at left tackle, had to be replaced by Jeremiah Crawford. Dayne Davis started at right tackle in place of Gerald Mincey. 

“Hope to have both of those guys available in this,” Heupel said of Campbell and Mincey. “We’ll kind of see how they go through the week and where they’re at before we get to kickoff. But certainly hope to have those guys better.”

Elsewhere against Georgia, Andre Turrentine started at safety in place of an injured Wesley Walker and other injuries in the defensive backfield forced the Vols to play walk-on Will Brooks against the Bulldogs.

Tennessee was also playing its first game without Dont’e Thornton after he was injured in the 36-7 loss at Missouri a week earlier. Wide receiver Bru McCoy was lost to a season-ending leg injury against South Carolina in September.

No. 25 Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network

Spraggins had started 36 straight games at right guard for the Vols, including all 11 this season, all 13 games in 2022 and all 12 games in 2021. 

He was a Preseason All-SEC Second Team pick by Lindy’s, a Third Team pick by the SEC coaches and media votes and was the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week in September 2022 after a win over Florida.

Spraggins also made Academic Honor Roll in 2021 and 2022. 

Tennessee will look to reach eight wins in the regular season on Saturday against Vanderbilt before learning its bowl opponent and destination on December 3.

“This is our last opportunity in the regular season,” Heupel said. “Need to go finish it the right way inside of Neyland Stadium. And guys need to get ready to go play.”