Four Tennessee football players are inactive for the Vols’ SEC home opener Saturday night against South Carolina. Linebacker Keenan Pili, offensive guard Andrej Karic, receiver Dont’e Thornton and safety Christian Charles.
Pili is missing his fourth straight game after suffering an upper body injury in Tennessee’s season opening win against Virginia. Elijah Herring slides into Pili’s starting linebacker spot while Arion Carter and Kalib Perry will also see increased snaps.
Texas transfer Andrej Karic is missing his first game this season after splitting playing time at left guard the first four weeks of the season. Cooper Mays’ return makes his absence less important as Ollie Lane will slide from center back to his natural left guard spot.
Charles is missing his third straight game. With the backup safety sidelines, Jaylen McCollough and Wesley Walker should continue to get an abundance of snaps.
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Thornton has been Tennessee’s fourth receiver all season and is missing his first game of the year. The Oregon transfer’s absence should provide more opportunities for Squirrel White in the slot.
While Tennessee is down a handful of key players, the injury update are largely positive for the Vols against South Carolina.
Offensive starters Cooper Mays, Bru McCoy, Ramel Keyton and Jaylen Wright are all available and expected to play after Josh Heupel previously called them game time decisions. McCoy, Keyton and Wright all suffered injuries last week against UTSA that sidelined them for the rest of the game.
Defensive tackle Elijah Simmons is active for the first time this season as is cornerback Doneiko Slaughter. It is unclear if either will play but they are both dressed out and available.
Mays is poised to make his senior season debut after undergoing a minor procedure in fall camp that’s sidelined him for the first four weeks of the season. Getting its starting center back is a big plus for Tennessee’s offense.
Kickoff at Neyland Stadium is at 7:30 p.m. ET. Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic are on the call for the SEC Network.
