Vols insider explains why some of Tennessee's defensive linemen are 'disappointed' going into game against Kentucky
The Tennessee Vols will host the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday night in Knoxville in a game that was supposed to be a showdown between former UT offensive lineman Gerald Mincey and his old Volunteers teammates. Mincey, who started his college career at Florida before spending two seasons at Tennessee, transferred to Kentucky after the 2023 […]
The Tennessee Vols will host the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday night in Knoxville in a game that was supposed to be a showdown between former UT offensive lineman Gerald Mincey and his old Volunteers teammates.
Mincey, who started his college career at Florida before spending two seasons at Tennessee, transferred to Kentucky after the 2023 season. And he immediately started talking trash about the Vols after arriving in Lexington.
"I think I owe it to all the Kentucky fans to handle business on Nov. 2 (when UK and UT play)," said Mincey in late January. "So I'm excited for that…."Kentucky has got to do more to earn it (a win against Tennessee)….I love the underdog (role). So when we go there Nov. 2 to Neyland and we bust them in the mouth, we can put the standard back over here."
Mincey also appeared to throw some shade at Vols offensive tackle John Campbell this offseason.
Gerald Mincey ruled out against the Tennessee Vols
After all of the trash talk during the offseason, Mincey isn't even going to play this weekend against the Vols. The redshirt senior offensive lineman was ruled out earlier this week.
Mincey also missed Kentucky's game last weekend against Auburn.
VolQuest's Brent Hubbs joined 104.5 The Zone's Ramon, Kayla, and Will on Friday and he noted that Mincey might have to undergo surgery and he could miss the rest of the season.
Hubbs also pointed out that several Vols defensive linemen are "disappointed" that Mincey won't be on the field for the Wildcats on Saturday night.
"It's my understanding that [Mincey] may have to have some surgery," said Hubbs. "He may be done for the year, but Kentucky's not announced that. But he missed last week, he's going to miss this week. I don't know that he's going to be back anytime soon.
"As for the Tennessee perspective, yeah there's some defensive linemen disappointed (that Mincey's not playing). There's some defensive linemen that have had this game circled. There's some offensive guys that have had this game circled."
"Gerald Mincey didn't have anything good to say about Tennessee when he left," added Hubbs. "And he talked about Tennessee every time he got in front of a microphone…and now that he's not playing, there's certainly some people who will be dressed in dark mode uniforms who will be really disappointed that he's not on the field on Saturday night."
Tennessee will have to settle for taking out their frustrations with Mincey on his Kentucky teammates.
And that shouldn't be a problem for the Vols — I'd expect Tennessee to have plenty of juice on what should be a wild Saturday night in Neyland.
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