ESPN analyst and former Auburn offensive lineman Cole Cubelic thinks the Tennessee Vols have a good football team.

Cubelic, who was in the broadcast booth for Tennessee’s win over Kennesaw State last weekend, isn’t making any wild predictions, but he likes what he’s seen from the Vols so far this season.

The popular analyst, however, does have one big concern (beyond right guard, which Cubelic acknowledges needs to get figured out) for Tennessee going forward.

Injuries.

“I think the story coming out of [the Kennesaw State game] is going to be injuries,” said Cubelic. “Your tight ends are dinged up, your running backs are dinged up — two of them didn’t play in this game. DeSean Bishop got dinged up in this game. The defensive tackles are a little bit nicked up. You’re thin in the secondary. You’ve got to get healthy for Texas and then the stretch run after that. But I like this football team.”

“Outside of health, this is a team that I continue to gain confidence in and continue to think is going to be able to find ways to win games in different ways,” added Cubelic.

Injuries are quickly becoming a concern for Tennessee — which isn’t good considering the Vols are about to play nine SEC games in a row (and the bye week doesn’t come until October 31, after games against Texas, Auburn, Arkansas, Alabama, and South Carolina).

The running back room is very beat up — sophomore Daune Morris is the only truly healthy option right now, though DeSean Bishop and Javin Gordon are expected to play against Texas this weekend (Justin Baker still has a hand issue and could be limited to special teams).

Tennessee’s tight ends room is thin on is experience after losing Ethan Davis for the season. Defensive linemen like Daevin Hobbs, Nathan Robinson, JJ Finch, and Isaiah Campbell have been dealing with various injuries.

That’s all on top of the season-ending injuries that Tennessee has already suffered to wide receiver Joakim Dodson, defensive back Edrees Farooq, defensive back Jadais Richard, and linebacker Jaedon Harmon.

It’s not time to press the panic button, but the Vols can’t take too many more hits — the lack of depth (which is an issue across college football because of the transfer portal) will show up in SEC play.

And look, I’m not pointing fingers — injuries happen. Sometimes it’s just bad luck. But Tennessee needs to have some good injury luck over the next few weeks if they’re going to be a team that makes some noise in November.