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Josh Heupel expects Dont’e Thornton to be available for No. 22 Tennessee next week when the Vols host Texas A&M at Neyland Stadium. Where the Oregon transfer fits into the rotation at wide receiver remains to be seen.
“Dont’e wasn’t available last week,” Heupel said, referring to Tennessee’s 41-20 win over South Carolina at Neyland Stadium Saturday night. “Anticipate him being full speed when we get to A&M.”
Heupel during his bye week press conference on Wednesday was asked if Thornton moving from the slot receiver to outside receiver could be a possibility after Bru McCoy suffered a season-ending leg injury against the Gamecocks.
“I don’t know how the rotation will exactly play out as we get to A&M,” Heupel said, “but we’ve got the ability and flexibility to move guys into different spots. So all of those guys really have trained at multiple spots.”
Dont’e Thornton this season: 7 catches, 89 yards
No. 22 Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC) hosts Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0) on October 14 at Neyland Stadium, a 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time kickoff on CBS.
Thornton didn’t dress for the Vols in the win over South Carolina on Saturday. Redshirt freshmen Kaleb Webb and Chaz Nimrod, for a second straight week, filled in after other injuries at the position.
The two young receivers played a more expanded role in the 45-14 win over UTSA two weeks ago after McCoy left the game in the first half and senior Ramel Keyton, the other starting outside receiver, was injured in the second half.
Both players returned against South Carolina, before McCoy suffered the gruesome injury after hauling in an 18-yard reception in the second quarter.
McCoy in just under five games caught 17 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown. Thornton in four games has caught just seven passes for 89 yards, with 53 of those yards coming on three catches in the 29-16 loss at Florida on September 16.
No. 22 Tennessee vs. Texas A&M , October 14, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
Replacing McCoy’s production, according to Heupel, will be a group effort. That includes Thornton, wherever he lines up.
“Dont’e, but, all the guys that you’ve seen and some that you maybe haven’t,” Heupel said. “You gotta continue to grow and be ready to play here on the back half of the season. Obviously, Bru’s injury, devastating for him. And he’s doing well, but at the same time in this game, the next guy’s gotta be ready to step up.”
Squirrel White was targeted nine times against South Carolina and caught all nine passes for 104 yards. He now leads the Vols in receiving with 26 catches for 276 yards. Keyton has 14 catches for 230 yards while Webb has four catches for 33 yards. Nimrod has one catch for 10 yards in five games.
“The young guys that played or have played, gotta continue to grow and play at a really high level,” Heupel said. “Like a lot of what they did the other night when they got their opportunity. Really the last couple weeks they played pretty good football.”
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