KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -Tennessee cornerback Antonio Gaines will miss the rest of the season after sustaining a torn knee ligament against Southern Mississippi.
The redshirt senior will undergo surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament but a date has not been set, team athletic trainer Jason McVeigh said.
Gaines made his only two career starts this season and recorded his best game with six tackles in the 22nd-ranked Volunteers’ 45-31 loss at No. 8 California. He had one tackle against Southern Miss.
“It’s always disappointing when a young man has an injury,” Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis said Thursday. “He had worked himself into a starting position and had played well for us. Those are the kind of tests you have in life. Somewhere down the road he’s going to be a better person because of it.”
After Gaines was injured in the second half, freshman Eric Berry shifted to cornerback from strong safety, and Jarod Parrish filled in at safety.
Gaines played in all but one game last season, moving up the depth chart with the season-ending injury to cornerback Inquoris “Inky” Johnson, who suffered blood vessel and nerve damage after being hit hard during the second game of the season against Air Force.
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