Ahead of Tuesday’s Music City Bowl, several significant players from both Illinois (8-4) and Tennessee (8-4) opted out or entered the transfer portal.
Illinois will be without two All-Big Ten players, along with junior defensive back Matthew Bailey, who underwent surgery following the end of the regular season.
Tennessee saw its leading receiver and tackler opt out, among others.
Here’s what the teams are losing with each player’s absence:
Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II
The Volunteers will be without quarterback Joey Aguilar’s top target in Brazzell II. The junior was one of just 19 FBS players with over 1,000 receiving yards this season.
Aguilar will have to target Tennessee’s next two leading receivers: Braylon Staley and Mike Matthews, who each had strong seasons in their own right. Staley posted over 800 yards, while Matthews was just behind with 770. The duo combined to catch ten touchdown passes this season, one more than Brazzell II’s nine.
While the absence of the SEC’s leading receiver will shake up Tennessee’s offense in the game, Illinois survived leading receiver Pat Bryant’s opt-out ahead of last year’s Citrus Bowl.
Tennessee CB Colton Hood
Already without fellow cornerbacks Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson III nearly all season due to injuries, Hood stepped up in a big way. The sophomore recorded 50 tackles and an interception for the Volunteers before declaring for the draft at the beginning of the month.
Now, Tennessee will rely primarily on Ty Redmond, who had a strong season at corner alongside Hood. Redmond led the team in interceptions (3) while picking up 39 tackles.
The Volunteers have a few options for the other spot, namely Tre Poteat, William Wright and Timothy Merritt.
Tennessee LB Arion Carter
Tennessee will also be missing a significant part of its defense in Carter. The linebacker led the team in tackles (76) despite appearing in only 10 games due to injury.
The Volunteers won both games that Carter missed, with Edwin Spillman performing well in his place.
Assuming that Spillman again plays for Carter, freshmen Jadon Perlotte and Jaedon Harmon could be among those who see more playing time.
Tennessee RB Peyton Lewis
Lewis was Tennessee’s third-most utilized running back this season behind DeSean Bishop and Star Thomas. He was still a difference-maker, though, recording seven touchdowns on just 70 carries.
Lewis entered the transfer portal following the end of the regular season and is already drawing significant interest.
The Volunteers could lean more heavily on Bishop and Thomas, or give Daune Morris more carries. Morris still racked up 133 yards on 35 carries despite sitting behind Bishop, Thomas and Lewis on the depth chart.
Tennessee DL Joshua Jospehs
Josephs picked up four sacks and three forced fumbles as one of Tennessee’s edge rushers this season, leading to him opting out of the bowl to focus on the draft.
The Volunteers will lean on Jordan Ross and Caleb Herring to pick up the slack. Both missed time with injuries this season, but still put together strong campaigns. Herring picked up four sacks in just nine games.
Illinois LB Gabe Jacas
As expected, the Big Ten regular-season sack leader was among the first players to opt out of the game. Jacas brought down opposing quarterbacks 11 times this year while also picking up three forced fumbles.
It will be impossible for Illinois to replace Jacas’ production, and head coach Bret Bielema said that several players will take snaps in his place.
That group could include sophomore Joe Barna, junior Daniel Brown and seniors Leon Lowery Jr. and Alec Bryant. Barna, Lowrey Jr. and Bryant all picked up at least .5 sacks this year, while Brown returned to the team at the end of November after missing nearly all season.
Illinois LT J.C. Davis
Davis, recently named to the All-Big Ten First Team, is Illinois’ only other player to opt out of the game.
Bielema said that redshirt freshman Nathan Knapik will take Davis’s spot on the offensive line. Knapik appeared in Illinois’ first three games this season, but did not play after the team’s win over Western Michigan in mid-September.
@BrendanGallian