The Vols secondary can’t catch a break.
You’ve got to be kidding at this point — the injury situation for Tennessee football has been downright brutal this season, especially in the secondary. Losing All-American cornerback Jermod McCoy was already a big setback, and then Rickey Gibson went down as well.
Tennessee climbed to No. 14 in the AP Poll after a huge offensive performance, but now there’s more concern on the defensive side.
The latest worry? Star transfer cornerback Colton Hood. During Saturday’s dominant win over Kentucky, Hood left the game with an injury. When asked about his availability for the upcoming matchup against Oklahoma, head coach Josh Heupel said fans would have to wait for the official injury report for updates. The big question now is whether Hood will be sidelined for Week 10.
Colton Hood’s status for Tennessee vs. Oklahoma is very much up in the air
Heupel is known for keeping injury details close to the vest, so his vague response about Colton Hood’s status came as no surprise. Still, this is the last thing defensive coordinator Tim Banks needed, with Tennessee already short-handed in the secondary.
To make matters more urgent, John Mateer and Oklahoma are coming to Neyland Stadium this weekend for one of Saturday’s marquee matchups. If the Vols’ defense allows the Sooners to find rhythm through the air, it could spell big trouble for Tennessee. The defense has already looked sluggish lately, and losing Hood would only compound those struggles.
That’s what has many fans concerned, especially with the Vols needing a win to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive. A victory would push No. 14 Tennessee to 7-2, followed by a bye week and a favorable game against New Mexico State.
The regular season then wraps up with a road trip to Florida and a home finale against Diego Pavia and Vanderbilt. With so much on the line, Tennessee simply can’t afford another loss — meaning they’ll need to be sharp on both offense and defense against the No. 18 Sooners.
Mateer may have stumbled in Oklahoma’s loss to Ole Miss last week, but he’s still a dangerous playmaker who can make teams pay for defensive lapses. If Hood is unable to suit up, it would be a major blow — and all eyes are now on whether he’ll be ready to take the field.
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