The Tennessee Vols badly need defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs to be an impact player in 2026, but he needs to be healthy for that to happen.
Senior defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs is a player that Tennessee badly needs in 2026.
The Vols' defensive line is one of the biggest question marks on the team — because of a lack of experience — and Hobbs is a talented veteran who is expected to be one of the anchors for that group.
Hobbs, though, is apparently dealing with a foot injury and is currently in a walking boot.
It's unclear how serious the injury is, though the defensive lineman appeared to confirm — via his response to a tweet on Monday — that he's not dealing with a fracture.
"Obviously there's the rumor out there about Daevin Hobbs being in a walking boot," said VolQuest's Austin Price on Tuesday on 104.5 The Zone's Ramon and Will . "He kind of dispelled some of the rumors out there about it being potentially a broken foot. We'll see. He is in a walking boot, but it's not ideal. He's a kid that's had a history of nagging little injuries. It's not ideal."
Hobbs suffered a foot injury in late March that kept him out for the rest of spring practice. It's unclear if this foot injury is related to the injury in March. Hobbs also missed the first five games of the 2025 season while dealing with a foot injury that he suffered in fall camp.
Additionally, the North Carolina native also missed time during the offseason earlier in his career because of multiple shoulder surgeries.
Hobbs is viewed as an elite talent who has yet to reach his potential because of the various injuries he's dealt with.
"He's a long, athletic kid that can bend, that can really run and burst," said Vols defensive line coach Rodney Garner before the 2025 season. "The things that you really want and wish for Hobbs - he's been stunted from a power and explosiveness [standpoint] over two offseasons because of shoulder surgeries. You sit there, I've always wondered, 'What if?' What would he be had he had those two offseasons? What would he be right now? But he's a very talented guy."
We're less than two weeks away from the start of the 2026 season, so there's definitely some concern about whether Hobbs will be ready to go. It wouldn't be a surprise if Tennessee holds him out for the opener against Furman with a big road game against Georgia Tech looming in Week 2.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: 'It's not ideal' – The Tennessee Vols have an injury concern with starting defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs
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