ATLANTA — Tennessee football offensive tackle David Sanders is out for the Syracuse game to open the 2025 season.
Sanders, a five-star recruit, was rated the No. 1 tackle in the 2025 class, and this was supposed to be his Tennessee debut as the starting right tackle. But Sanders is in track pants on the sideline during the Vols’ warm-ups at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
He suffered a minor injury in practice during game week, according to a UT spokesperson.
Redshirt freshman Jesse Perry is expected to move from right guard to right tackle for his first career start. There could be movement at center and right guard throughout the game.
Sanders’ absence adds to a short injury list already known.
Defensive tackle Daevin Hobbs is out multiple weeks due to a foot injury.
Jermod McCoy, a 2024 All-America cornerback and a projected 2026 NFL first-round draft pick, is out after suffering a torn ACL in January during an offseason training session.
No. 18 Tennessee plays Syracuse at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 30 (noon ET, ABC) in the Aflac Kickoff Game.
When will Jermod McCoy return for Tennessee football?
After McCoy tore his ACL, he underwent surgery and rehabbed this offseason.
On Aug. 8, McCoy returned to practice on a limited basis. He took part in individual drills but didn’t participate in full-contact periods. UT closed practices two weeks before the Syracuse game, which followed the program’s normal preseason schedule. But that means McCoy has continued his rehab behind closed doors.
Tennessee hasn’t released specific details of McCoy’s rehab schedule, and coach Josh Heupel hasn’t provided a timetable for the cornerback’s return.
Every knee injury is different. But typically, elite athletes can recover from ACL tears in about nine months. That would put McCoy back on the field in October.
UT plays Arkansas on Oct. 11 and at Alabama on Oct. 18. McCoy could return sooner or later.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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