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Tennessee football’s top 10 injury concerns for 2020

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: Defensive back Baylen Buchanan #28 of the Tennessee Volunteers between plays during the game between the UTEP Miners and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-0. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: Defensive back Baylen Buchanan #28 of the Tennessee Volunteers between plays during the game between the UTEP Miners and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-0. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images
Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images /

Pick Analysis. Senior. player. 839. Scouting Report. Offensive Lineman. Trey Smith. 1

To nobody’s surprise, Trey Smith’s health issues top this list. For starters, Smith is Tennessee football’s best player and has been the past three years. The necessity for Smith makes potential injuries with him more concerning.

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However, even without that fact, he brings the biggest injury concerns to Rocky Top. We all know that Smith could not take part in full offseason activities between 2017 and 2018 and then 2018 and 2019. He also had his season cut short beginning at the end of October in 2018. And this was all due to blood clots in his lungs.

Such an issue can be recurring, even if he’s figured out a way to play with it. Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, which specifically targets the lungs to begin with, Smith is likely even more high-risk. As a result, there are concerns with him beyond just his ability to play right now. It’s hard to imagine the virus not hitting him hard if he gets it.

When the 6’6″ 335-pound product of University School of Jackson in Jackson, Tenn. has played, he’s been elite. The two full seasons he played, he started at guard, and he earned First-Team All-SEC both times, including as a freshman when he earned Freshman All-American honors as well. In 2018, Smith on track to become an All-SEC tackle before the blood clots.

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Smith shocked the Tennessee football world by deciding to return for his senior season, and Vol fans are excited to see what he can do. However, questions about his health are going to continue, and amidst COVID-19, they are only more concerning. That has to be his first priority.

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