Josh Heupel: Vols decided 'it was probably best' for Cedric Tillman not to play against Missouri
Cedric Tillman didn’t play for No. 5 Tennessee during the 66-24 win over Missouri on Saturday after the Vols decided it “was probably best” for the redshirt senior wide receiver to sit the game out.
Tillman was dressed for pregame warmups and went through the Senior Day ceremony before the game in full pads. He later was wearing street clothes on the Tennessee sideline.
“Ced could’ve played in this one,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said after the game. “Just everything going on, it has nothing to do with the ankle. He’ll be ready to go next week. As a program, and talking with him after warmups, just felt like it was probably best to sit this one out.”
The Vols (9-1, 5-1 SEC) play at South Carolina next week and end the regular-season schedule on November 26 at Vanderbilt.
Tennessee certainly didn’t end up needing Tillman against Missouri, rolling up a school-record 724 yards of total offense.
The Vols completed 28 of 38 passes for 460 yards and four touchdowns. The Vols rushed 37 times as a team for 264 yards and five more touchdowns on the ground.
Hendon Hooker goes for 405 total yards, four TDs on Senior Day
Hendon Hooker completed 25 of 35 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 50 more yards and another score on the ground. Joe Milton III replaced the Hooker late in the fourth quarter, completing all three of his pass attempts for 105 yards and a touchdown.
A Tennessee spokesperson said during the first quarter the Vols “just decided not to play” Tillman, who missed three games earlier this season due to a high-ankle sprain. On The Vol Network radio broadcast, sideline reporter and former Tennessee receiver Jayson Swain reported that the Vols opted not to play Tillman due to the wet field conditions.
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Tillman had a breakout redshirt junior season in 2021, catching 64 passes fro 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s played in just five games this season, after suffering the ankle sprain in the win over Akron on September 17 at Neyland Stadium. He has 28 catches for 336 yards and one touchdown this season.
Jalin Hyatt went over 1,000 yards for the season on a 30-yard reception in the second quarter. He finished the game with 146 yards on seven catches, including a 68-yard touchdown.
Tennessee scores 38 straight points in second half
Missouri scored 10 straight points to trim what was a 28-14 deficit in the first half down to four in the third quarter. From there, the Vols scored 38 straight points, scoring 21 in the third quarter and 17 more in the fourth.
“The statement for us,” Heupel said after the game, “is that we’re a good football team playing good football. What the scoreboard ultimately ends up being, and what people down the line may judge us for, we’re out of control of some of those things.
“There were a lot of things that were good in the first half, some things that weren’t — offensively, in all three phases. Our best football is still out in front of us. I am proud of the fight, the competition, the ability to reset. The second half, the way our guys went out and competed in all three phases, it was a good win.”
