Josh Heupel updates the health of Tennessee slot receiver Squirrel White
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel during his weekly press conference on Monday downplayed any injury concern for Squirrel White. The sophomore slot receiver left the 49-13 win over Virginia in the second half with an apparent injury and did not return to the game.
“The time of the game,” Heupel said, “that’s the only reason that he wasn’t back in the game. Felt we were in a good spot there.”
Tennessee (1-0) opens its home schedule against Austin Peay (0-1) on Saturday at Neyland Stadium, a 5 p.m. Eastern Time start. The game is available as an online live stream through ESPN+ or SEC Network+.
White started in the win over Virginia. He was targeted seven a team-high seven times and caught a team-high six passes for 45 yards.
White played 39 snaps in total on Saturday, coming in behind receiver Ramel Keyton (73), Bru McCoy (58) and Dont’e Thornton (44) in snap count.
Heupel said Tennessee receivers can be better with “subtle details” moving forward.
“I thought they performed well,” Heupel added. “There’s some things early in the football game that everybody saw that we weren’t quite in sync. Not far off either, and anticipate us continuing to grow.”
In 12 games last season, White was fourth on the team in receiving, coming in behind Jalin Hyatt, McCoy and Keyton while catching 30 passes for 481 yards and two touchdowns.
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He caught five passes for 122 yards and a touchdown in the homecoming win over UT Martin in October and had five catches for 96 yards against Missouri in November. He ended his freshman season on a high note by leading the Vols in the Orange Bowl win over Clemson with nine catches for 108 yards and a touchdown.
Tennessee played shorthanded on the line of scrimmage against Virginia, missing starting center Cooper Mays and defensive tackle Elijah Simmons to injury.
During training camp, wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope described White “a vibrant light on and off the field” for the Vols.
“When he’s around the guys, everybody lights up,” Pope said. “When he’s on the field, it’s contagious. Everybody’s willing to play hard. Seeing that personality, (him) showing the room has been awesome, man. Really good.”
“He and Joe Milton were a new duo this summer,” Pope added. “That was new to me but seeing him open up and be more talkative and his personality come out, that’s only better for the rest of the room.”
