Vols to be without key starter remainder of spring camp
Tennessee will be without the on-field services of one its veteran-most players, as well as an undisputed team leader, for the remainder of spring camp and an extended period of time.
After electing not to turn pro following his junior season, All-SEC linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin has suffered a shoulder injury that will prevent him from participating in the final four weeks of spring camp and likewise include extended rehab. Redshirt-sophomore Dillon Bates also is out for the remainder of spring due to injury from the linebacker position.
"Jalen Reeves-Maybin will be out the rest of spring, but we anticipate he will be back right around the first of June," said Jones, who declined to divulge the exact nature of Reeves-Maybin's left shoulder injury. "Dillon Bates as well will miss the rest of spring. Fortunately, like Jalen, he should be back around the first week of June so they should not miss any reps for the season. It's an opportunity for other players to assert themselves and put their football identity on video.”
The Vols returned to practice Tuesday, their fourth of spring camp, after a 12-day break following their first three of 15 allowable spring sessions.
A senior from Clarksville who posted back-to-back triple-digit tackles seasons in 2014-15, Reeves-Maybin missed his first-ever spring camp on Rocky Top also due to shoulder injury. He missed the 2013 camp as a true-freshman, midyear enrollee because he underwent a labrum-repair procedure that stemmed from a high school injury.
Earlier Tuesday afternoon, Reeves-Maybin Tweeted the following: "It pours when it rains."
Reeves-Maybin has appeared in 37 career games and amassed 25 tackles for losses; he set a career-high with a monstrous 21-tackle performance last season in the Vols’ overtime loss to Oklahoma. His 105 tackles during the ‘15 campaign were fourth-most in the SEC.
Reeves-Maybin spoke to reporters following the Vols’ first practice on March 7, and he said then he believed Tennessee was about to embark on a special season.
"It was definitely great to be back out there,” he said, “and to be on the field one last time with those guys, knowing this is the start of a special season. I think (the opening practice) definitely set the tone for us.”
The absence of Reeves-Maybin should likely result inincreased practice reps for the trio of Cortez McDowell, Quarte’ Sapp and even Gavin Bryant moving forward for the Vols.