On3 Injury Report: Three Tennessee starters to return from injury vs. South Carolina

The wait is apparently over for the return of Cooper May. Tennessee’s starting center is set to play for the Vols against South Carolina Saturday night at Neyland Stadium, according to a report from On3 national college football reporter Matt Zenitz.

Zenitz also reported that Tennessee starting running back Jaylen Wright and starting wide receiver Ramel Keyton are set to play against the Gamecocks after leaving last week’s gave against UTSA with apparent injuries.

No. 21 Tennessee (3-1, 0-1 SEC) hosts South Carolina on Saturday in a 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time start at Neyland Stadium. The game will be broadcast by SEC Network.

“Really all the guys that you didn’t see at the end of last week,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said on Thursday, “had a really good week. It’s always game-time decisions. But feel really good about all of them.”

Mays has missed four straight games to start the season after undergoing surgery on August 9. He returned to practice in the week leading up to the 30-13 win over Austin Peay on September 9 and has dressed for the last three games before ultimately not playing.

“Practiced really well,” Heupel said of Mays on Thursday. “Like those other guys that I talked about, will ensure that through tomorrow and obviously game day that they’re ready to go compete at the level that you need to in this one.

“South Carolina is a big, strong, physical, explosive up front. So hopefully we’ll have them locked and loaded, ready to roll.”

Injuries appeared to pile up for Vols in win over UTSA

Multiple starters for Tennessee appeared to get banged up in the 45-14 win over UTSA, while some left the game and did not return.

Most notable was quarterback Joe Milton III, who stayed in the game. Player that left the game and did not return included Wright, Keyton, starting receiver Bru McCoy, starting left tackle John Campbell, starting linebacker Aaron Beasley and starting defensive end Dominic Bailey.

Milton was slow to get up after being tackled late in the first half. He stayed in the game to finish the first half and played the second half with a brace on his right knee and what appeared to be a slight limp.

“I’m pretty good,” Milton said after the game when asked about his knee. “You get banged up in football. But one of the guys had my leg and the other guys tackled me. That’s part of football. Body wise, I feel great.”

Milton was also asked if the hit concerned him about his knee when it happened.

“It did at first,” he said. “When I got up I moved and I moved my leg, I was fine.”

No. 21 Tennessee vs. South Carolina, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network

A UTSA defender landed on Wright in the first half and Wright appeared wobbly after holding his helmet after hitting the ground. He left the game with trainers and did not return. He had four rushes for 16 yards in the first half. 

He’s Tennessee’s leading rusher on the season with 45 carries for 321 yards. McCoy leads the team in catches, with 15 for 196 yards and Keyton leads in yards, with 205 yards on 12 receptions.

Keyton left late in the third quarter after appearing to land on the football while attempting to make a diving catch on a go route. He walked off under his own power after being checked on by the training staff on the field. McCoy didn’t play in the second half but was seen jogging on the sideline while being held out.

Tennessee wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope said Monday during an appearance at The Knoxville Quarterback Club that all of his wideouts would be available for tonight’s game against South Carolina.

“All the receiver are available for Saturday,” Pope said. “Everybody’s good. Coach Heup, I’m sure will address the injury report. But yeah, we’re all in good shape.”