Two straight games. Two straight ankle sprains — both coming to a member of Tennessee’s wide receiver corps.
And with those injuries likely carrying over into Saturday’s matchup at No. 12 Georgia — junior wide receiver Von Pearson has already been ruled out, and sophomore pass catcher Josh Smith is unlikely to play — the Volunteers offense has been desperately searching for some sort of replacement in the play-making department.
Enter Josh Malone.
“His role will continue to expand and very rightfully so,” Tennessee head coach Butch Jones said at Monday’s press luncheon. “He’s worked exceptionally hard. He’s starting to understand the small details of what it takes to play championship football at the receiver position — the work ethic, the practice habits. I thought he had a very good work week last week.”
For Malone, who was rated either a four or five-star wide receiver depending on the recruiting service, his freshman campaign has begun much slower than anticipated.
Through three games, the former Station Camp High School standout has just five catches for 63 yards, but under the watchful tutelage of wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni, Jones feels confident in upping the young Malone’s workload despite entering the hostile environments of the SEC.
“(Azzanni) has a knack for developing receivers, and Josh holds on every word that he says,” Jones said. “He’s working exceptionally hard now, and he’s really worked his practice habits.
“You have to be able to take the practice field to the game field, and he’s been able to do that. He’s played consistently every time he’s gone in there. He’s caught the football. He’s advanced the football. He’s blocked, and he’s done everything that we’ve asked of him. He’s been a quiet, consistent performer for us.”
Even so, the loss of Pearson and potential absence of Smith could prove detrimental for the Vols’ air attack. One member of that duo has started each of the last two weeks, while the tandem alone has accounted for 32 percent of UT’s receiving yards and 33 percent of the Vols’ receiving touchdowns.
That makes the potential emergence of Malone all the more crucial as the Vols look for their first road win over a ranked opponent since 2006 — a, 51-33, victory at Sanford Stadium over the then No. 10 Bulldogs.
“Like I always say, people have to get more reps,” sophomore wide receiver Marquez North said, “and then we’ve just all got to step up as a group, play complementary football and gel.
“Everyone’s going to get more reps and more plays — everyone that’s capable because we play a lot of guys.”
Health updates: Monday, Jones provided clarity on a plethora of offensive injuries heading into the Georgia matchup.
Smith’s progress was deemed “ongoing,” while Pearson was officially ruled out for Saturday’s contest. Both wide receivers suffered high-ankle sprains in consecutive weeks — Pearson’s coming against Arkansas State Sept. 6 and Smith’s occurring at Oklahoma Sept 13.
Promising news, however, was delivered on the tight end front as Jones indicated both freshmen Daniel Helm (ankle sprain) and Ethan Wolf (bruised knee) will be available against the Bulldogs.
Meanwhile, freshman running back Derrell Scott, who hasn’t played yet this season with what was earlier pegged as a “foot injury”, returned to practice last week, but Jones still wasn’t ready to designate him as “game ready.”
“It’s ongoing,” Jones said. “It is very good to have him back on the football field, and he brings another element to the backfield. Also competition. Not quite game ready yet, but we will make a determination on his status if he will be on the travel squad or not going on the road.
“When you go on the road in the SEC you have travel restrictions, so a lot of it is special teams value as well.”
