A foolish mistake in Tennessee’s win against Arkansas will put the Vols in a tougher spot against Alabama
The task just got a slight bit more challenging against the Crimson Tide, thanks to an avoidable moment.
The Tennessee Vols defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, 34-31, at Neyland Stadium to improve to 5-1. The game saw a handful of players, including DeSean Bishop, Braylon Staley, and Daevin Hobbs, get dinged up a bit, but for the time being, the Vols appear to have avoided disaster on Saturday.
Tennessee will need to be at its best and healthiest to beat the Alabama Crimson Tide next Saturday.
However, Tennessee will be without a key name for the first half against Alabama next weekend. LB Edwin Spillman was called for targeting in the fourth quarter and ejected. As a result, Spillman will be out for the first half against Alabama.
Tennessee LB Edwin Spillman will miss the first half against Alabama
The play in question occurred when Arkansas was driving down 34-17. On first and 10, Arkansas QB Taylen Green scrambled inside the red zone with about eight and a half minutes left in the game. Green slid, and Spillman lowered his head and shoulder and delivered a hard blow right to Green’s head, which snapped backwards. Flags flew, and the targeting call was reviewed and upheld.
Spillman finished the game with five total tackles. On the season, he has 28 total tackles and one sack. Spillman plays the third linebacker position behind Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander, so he plays an important role. Coming into Saturday, he had logged 192 snaps, which was just three fewer than Telander for the second-most among all linebackers. He’s also the highest-rated of the three linebackers by Pro Football Focus in run defense, tackling, and pass rush grades.
Tennessee will at least get him back to start the second half, but the Vols’ defense hasn’t exactly been the same deep and productive group that it was in 2024, so losing a productive and talented player in the middle for even a half isn’t what you want going into the biggest game on your schedule.
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Josh Heupel sends a subtle but sharp message at the officiating after Tennessee’s narrow win over Arkansas
The flags went strongly against Tennessee on Saturday.
