Tennessee Football Defensive Tackle Shy Tuttle Another Vols Player Out for the Season

Sep 24, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Shy Tuttle (2) reacts after a play against the Florida Gators during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 38-28. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Shy Tuttle (2) reacts after a play against the Florida Gators during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 38-28. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee football suffered another season-ending injury with the news that Volunteers defensive tackle Shy Tuttle is hurt for the year.

It’s the second straight year that Shy Tuttle had his season cut short. The sophomore defensive tackle injured his leg on Saturday against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

And the news broke on Monday that Tuttle is out for the season.

Butch Jones confirmed the injury in his Monday press conference, just as he confirmed Jalen Hurd’s departure from the program.

Here’s what Jones said about Tuttle.

"“I feel for that young man. He worked so hard to get himself back into playing condition and worked so diligently in the training room. He has a knee injury and will miss the rest of the season and will be doing rehab throughout the course of spring practice. I love him to death. This is very unfortunate and part of the adversity in a football season.”"

With Tuttle’s injury, the Vols have now lost three scholarship defensive tackles this year. Kahlil McKenzie also got hurt for the season, and Danny O’Brien was dismissed from the team.

They are now down to two scholarship players who are regulars at the position, Kendal Vickers and Dimarya Mixon.

Kyle Phillips has to move over to the inside as well, as does Jonathan Kongbo. And maybe Alexis Johnson can finally get on the field, but he’s battling injuries as well.

Fortunately for the Vols, they still have Derek Barnett and Corey Vereen on the outside to make lots of plays.

But Tuttle joins a long list of Tennessee football stars that have had a disappointing run this season through no fault of his own.

That the news broke the same day Jones confirmed Jalen Hurd’s departure just shows the state of the Tennessee football program right now.