Oklahoma came into its first-ever SEC opener against Tennessee already banged up with injuries to wide receivers Jalil Farooq and Jayden Gibson, defensive back Gentry Williams, and offensive lineman Geirean Hatchett. However, in the first half, more injuries have started to pile up and to key players on both sides of the ball.
Early in the game, wide receiver Nic Anderson, a freshman All-American in 2023, came up lame after running a route and left for the locker room. Later, Anderson emerged from the locker room in street clothes and is reportedly out for the game. Quarterback Jackson Arnold didn’t have many weapons to work with and was benched in the second quarter.
According to Gabe Ikard on OU Radio, Nic Anderson has came out of the locker room in street clothes. Done for the night. #Sooners
— Eric Bailey (@EricBaileyTW) September 22, 2024
Anderson has missed time this season, but a season ago he was second on the team in receiving yards with 798 and 10 touchdowns on 38 catches. The Sooners will be without their 6-foot-4 216-pound redshirt sophomore the rest of the way against the Volunteers.
On the defensive side of the ball, senior safety Kendel Dolby was carted off the field in the second quarter with a gruesome leg injury that required an air cast to be applied on the field.
The entire Sooners roster went over to wish Kendel Dolby well as he’s loaded on a cart with an injury. pic.twitter.com/LQmJJq8RCt
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) September 22, 2024
The 5-foot-11 defensive back racked up 49 tackles in 2023 with two sacks and two interceptions. In 2024, Dolby, who has dealt with injuries prior to this one, has seven tackles, a sack, and a pass breakup.
Dolby has been ruled out for the game and will likely miss a lot of time, if not the rest of the season. With injuries piling up, Oklahoma is down 19-3 and has only gained 82 total yards against the Vols defense. Without Anderson, Deion Burks is leading the team in receiving with three catches for 24 yards and in rushing with 18 yards on two carries.