Tennessee suffers a blow to its offensive line

Left guard Marcus Jackson (John Raoux/AP)

The University of Tennessee may lose its starting offensive guard Marcus Jackson for the entire season, after the fifth-year senior tore his bicep at practice on Friday.

Butch Jones confirmed that Jackson may miss the entire season, while speaking with the media on Tuesday, and added that fellow lineman Jashon Robertson has asked to wear Jackson’s No. 75 jersey.

Each year coaches hope for the opportunity to boast that their team is healthy heading into preseason camp, and pray that the team remains that way until the first game. Unfortunately, this injury will leave Tennessee’s coaching staff shuffling the offensive line and sophomore tackle Brett Kendrick looks like he will be the man filling Jackson’s vacated spot.

Tennesse is a team that many feel could be a dark horse candidate to win the SEC East this season, after a young group matured over the course of a grueling SEC schedule last year.

Jackson started 12 games last season for a Volunteers offensive line that returned no starters from 2013.

Butch Jones: #Vols Sr G Marcus Jackson’s college career could be done because of arm injury: http://t.co/m9oe10B9Dw pic.twitter.com/jLIOpU3QhE
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) August 11, 2015

Tennessee sophomore OG Jashon Robertson wants to change his number from #73 to #75 to honor Marcus Jackson who's out for the season.
— THE VOLUNTEER (@ALLVOLNEWS) August 11, 2015

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