Vols Football: Steve Stripling Names Replacement For Shy Tuttle
By Zach Ragan
The Tennessee Vols got a huge win against Georgia on October 10, but it came with a price.
True freshman defensive tackle Shy Tuttle, who was becoming a force along the defensive line, was injured on a questionable block and will miss the rest of the season.
That means someone will have to step up for the Vols in Tuttle’s absence and it appears that person will be fellow true freshman defensive tackle Quay Picou, according to defensive line coach Steve Stripling.
STRIPLING: The next guy in (DT rotation addition) is going to be Quay Picou. pic.twitter.com/SWV2KG3Hw3
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) October 20, 2015
Stripling said last week that Picou was still a “long ways away”.
Jancek said freshman Quay Picou is the fifth defensive tackle now, but he's "a long ways away" and more of an emergency option.
— Patrick Brown (@pbrown247) October 14, 2015
But as Butch Jones often says, you’re always one play away.
Picou was an underrated member of Tennessee’s 2015 signing class. He was a three-star recruit, but he was a bit overshadowed due to the signing of Tuttle and five-star Kahlil McKenzie.
We saw in the win against Georgia, however, that true freshman can come into the game and make an immediate impact.
True freshmen offensive linemen Jack Jones and Chance Hall were thrust into action due to injuries and excelled.
It’s often impossible to know how a player will react when he finally gets in a game. Picou could be a gamer (a term coaches hate, but I still fully believe in) that turns out to be an important part of the Vols’ defense.
Like I said, it’s impossible to know, but we’ll likely soon find out due to the lack of depth created by Tuttle’s injury.