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Kelsey Pope addresses Tennessee WR Squirrel White's attempt to play through injury

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•10/30/24•

GrantRamey

squirrel white
Squirrel White (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

Kelsey Pope described it as “a fine line you got to draw.” How much should Tennessee’s wide receivers coach let a player attempt to play while being banged up? Or how much should he hold a player back?

“I think what best gives you an idea of that is how he handles it in practice,” Pope said on Tuesday.

The question was about Squirrel White. Tennessee’s junior wide receiver who injured his shoulder in the 19-14 loss at Arkansas on October 5, but has played through the pain in each of the last two games, in the 23-17 overtime win over Florida and the 24-17 win over Alabama.

Up Next: No. 7 Tennessee vs. Kentucky, Saturday, SEC Network

White was in a shoulder sling after the Arkansas game, but played 30 snaps against Florida a week later. He left the Alabama last week after running a deep route and diving for a pass from Nico Iamaleava, landing hard on his injured shoulder. 

Alabama was the first game that White didn’t record a catch. He had a season-high seven catches at Arkansas for 38 yards and had a season-high 71 yards two weeks ago against Florida.

No. 7 Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC) is coming off its second bye week of the season, hosting Kentucky (3-4- 1-4) Saturday night (7:45 Eastern Time, SEC Network) at Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said during his bye week press conference last Wednesday that White was “limited” during that morning’s practice but that thought he would be ready for the Kentucky game this week.

“Feel like Squirrel will be ready to roll and when we get to the next football game,” Heupel said.

Bru McCoy led Tennessee with six catches for 80 yards against Alabama. Dont’e Thornton caught three passes for 70 yards, including a 55-yarder on third down in the third quarter, and Chris Brazzell had two catches for 27 yards, including the go-ahead 16-yard touchdown with just under six minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Squirrel White this season: 20 receptions, 230 yards

White combined for five catches for 100 yards over the first three games, wins against Chattanooga, NC State and Kent State, and had three catches for 13 yards at Oklahoma. 

He’s tied for the team lead in receptions (20) and fourth in yards (230).

Moving forward, Pope described it as a play-by-play assessment of what White can handle and what he can’t.

“I think every plays got kind of a lifespan of their own with guys like that,” Pope said. “I think you’ve got to be in tune and be intentional with how they look, how they’re responding. 

“So I think each player, you asses exactly where you are as far as how comfortable those type of guys are out there.”

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