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Tennessee football’s 10 biggest injury concerns for 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

From left, Tennessee offensive lineman Cooper Mays (63), Head Coach Josh Heupel, quarterback Hendon Hooker (5), and Offensive Analyst Mitch Militello stand before the Pride of the Southland Band as they perform “Tennessee Waltz” after a win in the NCAA college football game between the Tennesse Volunteers and Vanderbilt Commodores in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 27, 2021.Kns Tennessee Vanderbilt Football
From left, Tennessee offensive lineman Cooper Mays (63), Head Coach Josh Heupel, quarterback Hendon Hooker (5), and Offensive Analyst Mitch Militello stand before the Pride of the Southland Band as they perform “Tennessee Waltz” after a win in the NCAA college football game between the Tennesse Volunteers and Vanderbilt Commodores in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 27, 2021.Kns Tennessee Vanderbilt Football /
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Tennessee defensive lineman Kingston Harris (54) runs off the field after a game between Tennessee and South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. South Carolina defeated Tennessee 27-24.Utvsusc1027 Cmc 2580
Tennessee defensive lineman Kingston Harris (54) runs off the field after a game between Tennessee and South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. South Carolina defeated Tennessee 27-24.Utvsusc1027 Cmc 2580 /

Injuries always become an x-factor hanging over any program entering a season. Tennessee football has had its share of seasons in the past that went significantly worse due to players getting hurt. They become harder to deal with when you’re still in the middle of a rebuild, as Josh Heupel somewhat is.

The Vols are much deeper than last year, but they still aren’t yet at the level where they could afford to lose key talent. However, there are some key players on this year’s team who have had issues in the past when it comes to staying healthy. That creates some worries this year.

This post will take a look at those players. It’s based on just how valuable they are to the program, how problematic their injury history is and how easily they can be replaced. Some are just now getting healthy as well after being banged up in the fall and in spring practice. These are Tennessee football’s 10 biggest injury concerns heading into the year.

Kingston Harris. 10. player. 839. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Offensive lineman. Senior

6’3″ 340 pounds

After committing to Jeremy Pruitt as a defensive lineman in 2018 out of Florida, Kingston Harris finally saw significant action in 2021…under Josh Heupel as an offensive lineman. The graduate o IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., hails from Orlando but left before Heupel even took the head coaching job down there with the UCF Knights.

Anyway, the Orange County kid who graduated from the prestigious Manatee County school played 61 snaps against the Pittsburgh Panthers and then got his first start against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles. However, he then missed the rest of the year due to injury.

Harris is actually key to Tennessee football’s depth on the offensive line. His playing time early shows that Heupel values him, and now fully healthy, he’ll be needed even more this year. Although he won’t start, other injuries are once again inevitable on the line, and having him could help offset those in a big way.

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