For the past few of weeks, Josh Smith’s status has been a mystery.
Before the Volunteers contest against Alabama, Tennessee head coach Butch Jones announced the sophomore wide receiver was on the road to recovery and would start running with hopes of “getting him back soon.”
Three weeks later, his season came to an end.
On Monday during his weekly media luncheon, Jones announced that Smith underwent surgery to help him recover from a high ankle sprain he suffered against Oklahoma on Sept. 13. That surgery would force him to miss the remainder of the season.
“He had his ankle scoped and they tightened the joint up,” Jones said. “We will have him back for spring football. We were hoping to have him back but … the ankle wasn’t healing appropriately.”
The loss, however, comes with its benefits, as Smith is eligible to apply for medical hardship waiver after playing in less than 30 percent of UT’s games this season. That would allow him to redshirt this year and give him a fifth year of eligibility.
Smith, though, is not the only player to be hit with what Jones called the “west coast spread offense” of injuries.
Junior wide receiver Von Pearson suffered a similar high ankle sprain against Arkansas State but was able to return after missing just two games.
“You look at Von Pearson, really it was amazing that he was back the way his body recovered, whereas Josh was just the opposite,” Jones said.
In three games this season — one of which he started — Smith caught ten passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.
“Josh means so much to us not just because he’s a good football player, but also because he’s tough,” Jones said. “He brings a whole other element. He brings an identity. He brings a personality to our football team.”
Dobbs’ difficulties: The media attention surrounding Joshua Dobbs is not surprising.
In two games as UT’s signal caller, the sophomore has amassed 734 total yards — 493 passing and 241 rushing — and led the Vols to a dramatic 45-42 overtime victory against South Carolina on Nov. 1.
But all the accolades have not deterred Jones from pointing out the deficiencies in his quarterback’s play.
“It’s easy to write things when you watch a game or two, but we see it every day in practice,” Jones said. “For us to be successful, he has to play with great consistency, day in and day out. That’s his biggest challenge, and he understands it. We work on it each and every day.”
Jones said that Dobbs’ practice performance on Sunday was “not what they needed,” but also stated that he did not believe that the underwhelming practice was because of a lack of focus.
“It’s fundamentals,” Jones said. “Josh is a very focused young man. That’s one of his strengths. He’s very focused, very even keeled. We all know about his intelligence. He has the quarterback intangibles. It’s the overall consistency with his elbow, how he releases the ball, from his feet, you throw with your feet, sitting in the pocket, throwing a catchable football. He has improved tremendously from the start of August camp to where he is now.
“He’s as focused and determined as a man that we have in our football program.”
Right tackle renamed: After injuring his left ankle against Ole Miss, freshman Coleman Thomas has missed the last two games for the Vols.
Despite returning to practice last week, though, Jones announced Monday that the Max Meadows, Virginia native will not return the offensive line’s starting rotation.
“Coleman Thomas is back, he’s practicing,” Jones said, “but right now Jacob’s (Gilliam) our right tackle.”
