Josh Heupel addresses Jeremy Banks' absence from team

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said on Monday that the Vols “anticipate” linebacker Jeremy Banks to be available for the Vols this week. The redshirt senior did not travel for the 63-38 loss at South Carolina on Saturday night. The reason why, however, is still a mystery.

“We anticipate Jeremy being with us here this week,” Heupel said. “As far as what transpired and those types of things, at the end of the day, he wasn’t available on Saturday.”

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Heupel didn’t go into details on Banks’ absence after Tennessee’s loss Saturday night either.

“Just wasn’t available for this one,” Heupel said during his postgame press conference. “Anticipating and hopeful for next week.”

Vols fall as Banks sits out

Regardless of the reasoning, the Vols definitely could have used Banks on Saturday. Prior to missing the Week 12 game, he had 46 tackles on the season, four tackles for loss, and one forced fumble.

“I mean, we’ll go back and look at the linebacker play,” Heupel said about the impact of Banks’ absence on the defense. “But obviously, structurally, defensively, we did not play as well as we’re capable of tonight.”

South Carolina finished the game with 606 total yards while putting 63 points on the board, the most points given up by Tennessee in the modern era.

Quarterback Spencer Rattler completed 30 of 37 passes for 438 yards and six touchdowns, after entering the game with just eight passing touchdowns on the season. The Gamecocks ran 38 times for 153 yards and three more touchdowns on the ground.

Tennessee had nine tackles for loss but just one sack on Rattler and only two quarterback hits.

With their College Football Playoff hopes dashed, the Vols must turn their focus to the Vanderbilt Commodores. Vanderbilt had one of Saturday’s biggest upset shockers as they took down the Florida Gators 31-24. They have a two-game winning streak in the conference for what feels like the first time in a decade.