Tennessee Football: Josh Heupel makes powerful statement about Vols WR Cedric Tillman
Tennesese Vols head football coach Josh Heupel spoke to reporters on Saturday after practice ahead of UT's trip to Miami for a matchup against the Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl. Heupel was asked about Vols wide receiver Cedric Tillman and the adversity he's faced this season. Tillman entered the 2022 season as the returning […]
Tennesese Vols head football coach Josh Heupel spoke to reporters on Saturday after practice ahead of UT's trip to Miami for a matchup against the Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl.
Heupel was asked about Vols wide receiver Cedric Tillman and the adversity he's faced this season.
Tillman entered the 2022 season as the returning leading wide receiver in the SEC. The expectation was that he'd have an even bigger season in 2022 than he had in 2021.
But unfortunately for Tillman, he suffered an ankle injury in a game against Arkon in the third week of the season. Tillman missed Tennessee's wins against Florida, LSU, Alabama, and UT-Martin before returning for the Vols' win against Kentucky.
The ankle injury was an issue for Tillman until the end of the season. In fact, Tillman didn't play against Vanderbilt in the regular-season finale due to poor field conditions (weather related).
Tillman, who is entering the 2023 NFL Draft, opted out of the Orange Bowl as a precaution.
"I think that's a really unique situation," said Heupel on Saturday when asked about Tillman. "A young guy that obviously played extremely well a year ago and was ready to play extremely well this year too. From Week 3 or Week 4, whatever it was, obviously had the surgery, just hasn't been at 100 percent."
"I love that he came back and tried to compete on the back end of the season," added Heupel. "I think that shows his heart for his teammates, for this program. For him, as he's getting ready for the draft process, I think it's important that he gets to the point where he's 100 percent. For him, this month here has got a chance to help him heal up and be ready for the backend of the NFL process."
It would've been easy for Tillman to sit out the rest of the season after the injury against Akron — especially as those types of decisions have become more common (Ja'Marr Chase opted out of the entire 2020 COVID-impacted season for example).
But he fought his way back to be there for his team. Tillman showed a lot of unselfishness by possibly risking further injury by doing all he could to get back to the field.
That's one of the main reasons why Tillman will always be a fan favorite on Rocky Top. He's been a huge part of the rebuild at Tennessee and his contributions will never be forgotten by Vols fans.
Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
