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Tennessee LB Edwin Spillman ejected for targeting vs. Arkansas, out first half at Alabama

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey10/11/25GrantRamey
Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee linebacker Edwin Spillman (13), defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs (5), and defensive lineman Joshua Josephs (19) chase after a fumbled ball by Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green (10) in an NCAA college football game on Oct. 11, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee linebacker Edwin Spillman (13), defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs (5), and defensive lineman Joshua Josephs (19) chase after a fumbled ball by Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green (10) in an NCAA college football game on Oct. 11, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Tennessee linebacker Edwin Spillman was ejected from Saturday’s game against Arkansas after being called for targeting on a hit to quarterback Taylen Green in the fourth quarter. 

By SEC rule, Spillman’s ejection in the second half against the Razorbacks means he’ll be suspended for the first half of Saturday’s game at No. 8 Alabama (5-1, 3-0 SEC). 

Saturday’s game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time start on ABC at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

Spillman, the 6-foot-1, 230-pound redshirt freshman from Nashville, entered Saturday’s game with 23 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks on the season. He was credited with five tackles and a quarterback hit before being ejected against Arkansas. 

Spillman had six tackles in four games as a freshman last season.

Tennessee’s defense struggled mightily in the first half against Arkansas, giving up 252 total yards. The Razorbacks ran for 157 and threw for 95 while going 3-for-6 on third down, building a 17-point lead.

The Vols regrouped in the second half, getting stops on defense while the offense scored 24 unanswered points to take a 34-17 lead. 

Arkansas scored on a 9-yard touchdown pass after the Spillman ejection, getting the deficit back to 10 with 8:17 left in the game.