FILE - In this Oct. 12, 2019, file photo, Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt watches during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State, in Knoxville, Tenn. The third-year coach is embracing the virtual time he gets to work with his players following the go-ahead from the Southeastern Conference. He's also using social media to stay in touch with his current recruiting class and watching videos shot by his Vols of their personal workouts. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)Wade Payne/Associated Press

44 Tennessee Football Players out for COVID Testing, Contact Tracing, Injuries

Adam Wells

Sep 5, 2020

The University of Tennessee canceled Saturday's scrimmage because of positive coronavirus tests, contact tracing and injuries.

Volunteers head coach Jeremy Pruitt told reporters a total of 44 players were unavailable, including 31 on offense.

From that group, Pruitt noted "seven or eight" were because of positive COVID-19 tests and another 27-28 were undergoing contact tracing.

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"I'm really glad we're not playing today," he said. "We'd have had a hard time beating anybody, so that might be a blessing in itself."

This isn't the first time Pruitt has had to adjust his team's schedule to accommodate for issues related to COVID-19. He elected not to hold practice on Aug. 28 because of some positive tests.

Per Blake Toppmeyer of the Knoxville News Sentinel, Pruitt believes the Volunteers will likely be able to hold between 20 to 22 of their allotted 25 team practices leading up to the start of the regular season.

Toppmeyer noted that SEC rules "mandate that anyone who had a high-risk contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 is required to quarantine for 14 days."

Tennessee is scheduled to open the 2020 season on Sept. 26 against South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium.

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