Josh Heupel addresses concern over Tiyon Evans injury

First-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel found some gems in the transfer portal, helping lead a program decimated by outgoing players and coaches back to 5-5 in his first season. One key addition was junior running back Tiyon Evans, who has emerged as an SEC caliber playmaker with big upside.

After dealing with an ankle injury earlier this season, Evans left the field against Kentucky. He then missed the Georgia game too. Heading into the final weeks of the season, Josh Heupel provided a brief update on Tiyon Evans.

“I don’t,” Heupel said on Wednesday’s SEC teleconference. “You know me, we typically wait until the end of the week before we make a decision on any of our guys.”

When asked a follow up about the nature of Tiyon Evans’ injury, and whether he could miss extended time, Josh Heupel provided an even shorter answer.

“I don’t believe that’s the case,” said Heupel.

Evans has played in seven games in his first season at Tennessee. The junior college transfer has 521 rushing yards with six touchdowns on 81 carries, adding 74 receiving yards and a touchdown. He split time with emerging back Jabari Small, creating a potent one-two punch for the Volunteers.

Josh Heupel on potential bowl eligibility

Last year under Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee went 3-7. This season, Josh Heupel has the Volunteers on the verge of a bowl game in year one of his tenure.

Tennessee is 5-5 this year, one win away from making a bowl game for the first time since 2019. In his weekly press conference this week, Heupel was asked about what making a bowl game would mean for the program in his first season at the helm.

“It’s big because it shows progress in year one over the course of the season, but then the practices on the back end of it [are] instrumental,” Heupel told reporters on Monday. “Continuing to develop your young guys. You get another few weeks with them, strength and conditioning in the weight room, too. All those things are huge as you push your program forward.”

The path to bowl eligibility continues with a non-conference game against South Alabama, which Tennessee is getting ready to face Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The Volunteers then finish the regular season against in-state rival Vanderbilt.

“The big thing for us is just focusing on this week, though,” Heupel said. “I think that’s really important. Our football team understands when you play really good opponents like we did last Friday in Georgia, they’re going to make some plays. we’re going to compete and make plays too.”