Vol Rumors: Wide Receiver Devrin Young To Miss Time
By Zach Ragan
Aug 31, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Devrin Young (19) carries the ball past North Carolina State Wolfpack wide receiver Tobais Palmer (4) on a kick return during an NCAA football game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports
The Tennessee Volunteers are already playing with a lot of youth and inexperience at the wide receiver position. It appears they’ll play with even more now, as junior wide receiver Devrin Young is expected to miss up to six weeks with a broken wrist, according to various reports.
The school hasn’t released anything official on Young’s injury as of yet.
Young, who lined up a lot at running back last season, is not only a reliable receiver for the Vols, he’s also the team’s primary punt/kick returner. Young returned the opening kickoff of the second half against Austin Peay, 58 yards. His electricity on special teams will be deeply missed. I’d expect Pig Howard to step up on punt/kick returns. I’d also expect Howard’s already large role on offense, to grow even bigger.
Against Austin Peay, Young had just one catch for nine yards, but he made it count, scoring on the play. He also had one carry for six yards.
Young is one of the more experienced Volunteers on the field, so his presence will definitely be missed. However, injuries are part of the game and there’s no doubt that Butch Jones has a lot of contingency plans in place for situations like these.
Update 1:15 pm est
During the weekly SEC coaches teleconference today Jones said (on Young’s injury) “We will know more later in the week. We are just waiting for word on that, he is at the doctor now.”
Update 8:10 pm est
Butch Jones confirmed during his weekly Vol Calls show, that Devrin Young broke his hand and will miss 4-6 weeks.
Jones mentioned Cam Sutton and Jacob Carter could get a look in the punt return game, while Vincent Dallas, Rajion Neal and Marlin Lane (along with Sutton and Carter) could get a look in the kick return game.