While SEC Media Days can be up and down with the news that comes out throughout the week, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel did provide some optimistic news about two injured Volunteers leading into the season.
Tennessee freshman running back Peyton Lewis missed the whole spring with an injury while sophomore running back Cam Seldon was injured during training camp. Both players dealt with shoulder injuries.
Both look like they’re on their way back, though.
According to Heupel on Tuesday, Lewis is “fully integrated into everything” that Tennessee is doing heading into the season. Seldon, on the other hand, is “really close to that” but “he’ll have a growth progression” as Tennessee gets closer to training camp in August.
Seldon is projected to be the second running back behind Dylan Sampson when healthy but was the fourth-string back last season behind Jabari Small, Jaylen Wright, and Sampson. Entering an elevated sophomore season, though, Seldon will be relied upon more for carries this year.
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With Wright and Small not playing in the Citrus Bowl last season, Seldon had the third-most carries behind Sampson and QB Nico Iamaleava during Tennessee’s win over Iowa. Sampson ended the game with 133 yards on 20 carries while Seldon found 55 yards on 13 carries. Iamaleava had 27 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries.
Seldon was a four-star athlete in the class of 2023 according to 247 Sports. While Seldon did play receiver as well in high school, Tennessee opted to start the 6-foot-2, 222-pounder at the running back position.
Lewis, on the other hand, is a four-star running back from the class of 2024 from Salem, Virginia. Lewis was a highly-touted player on the recruiting trail, evidenced by his 373 yards and four touchdowns on 30 carries during Virginia’s Class 4 State Semifinals game last year.
ESPN’s Mark Schlabach recently tagged Lewis as his sleeper pick for Tennessee this upcoming season.
Tennessee will begin spring camp in August before the season opener on Aug. 31.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more from SEC Media Days in Knoxville.
