According to multiple reports, Tennessee Vols wide receiver Josh Smith will miss at least two weeks with a high ankle sprain.
That means Smith’s availability for the Volunteers’ game against Georgia on September 27 is now in doubt.
Smith started in place of Von Pearson (also out with a high ankle sprain) on Saturday night against Arkansas. The Knoxville native was one of Tennessee’s most consistent players against Oklahoma. He caught Tennessee’s only touchdown of the night, a 40 yarder from Justin Worley.
With Smith potentially sidelined, it means the Vols will now have to ask more from a wide receiver group that suddenly isn’t as deep as it looked before the season started.
Jason Croom is the logical next man up, but his performance against the Sooners left a lot to be desired. For a player that’s built more like a tight end, he played extremely “soft”.
The Vols worked true freshman Josh Malone into the gameplan a bit more against Oklahoma. It might be time to cut the Tennessee native loose and see what he can do against SEC competition.
Malone showed during Tennessee’s spring game that he’s capable of making splash plays. The Vols haven’t been forced to lean on him so far this season, but it might be time.
Other options to pick up the slack at wide receiver include Johnathon Johnson and, if healthy, true freshman Vic Wharton.
Tennessee is definitely going to miss Smith and Pearson against Georgia. Those are two of the Vols’ most consistent playmakers. That just means UT will have to be that much more on top of their game when they visit the Bulldogs in Athens.
Fortunately for the Vols, they have one of the top receivers in the conference on their roster in Marquez North. They also will lean even more on slot receiver Pig Howard.
It should be noted, however, that Pearson and Smith haven’t officially been ruled against Georgia just yet, but it’s a long shot (even with the bye) that either play. Tennessee will hope to have both receivers back by the Florida game on October 4.