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Tennessee football at Kentucky: 10 keys to the game for Vols and Wildcats

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 3, 2020; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; A general view before the game between Kentucky and Ole Miss at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2020; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; A general view before the game between Kentucky and Ole Miss at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee offensive lineman Cooper Mays (63) and Tennessee offensive lineman Darnell Wright (58) rest after a play during a game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.Kns Tennessee Bowling Green Football
Tennessee offensive lineman Cooper Mays (63) and Tennessee offensive lineman Darnell Wright (58) rest after a play during a game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.Kns Tennessee Bowling Green Football /

7. Health of the Vols

There’s no doubt that Tennessee football’s bye week came at a much-needed time. The Vols are already thin this year when it comes to scholarship players given all the attrition that came from the NCAA investigation and firing Jeremy Pruitt. That was what made this such a mess for Josh Heupel when he took over the program to begin with.

However, on top of that, Heupel’s scheme creates a situation in which players are prone to going down. Both Vols quarterbacks to start a game this year have gone down at different times in Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton III, and the same holds true for both running backs in Tiyon Evans and Jabari Small. Hooker and Small were banged up before the bye.

Then there are the injuries on the offensive line. Cooper Mays hasn’t been right since he was hurt in the opener against the Bowling Green Falcons. Cade Mays went out against the Ole Miss Rebels. K’Rojhn Calbert has missed the whole season so far due to surgery.

If the Vols are going to make a run at the end of the season, they need these guys back. Did the bye week help? We know on defense it didn’t do much, as Juwan Mitchell is out for the year. However, it could have helped LaTrell Bumphus on the defensive line. What it did for him and all those offensive players will be huge Saturday.

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