Tennessee sophomore wide receiver Josh Smith will not play in the Vols' SEC opener Saturday at 12th-ranked Georgia because of the high ankle sprain he suffered Sept. 13 at Oklahoma, coach Butch Jones said Thursday during his weekly appearance on Nashville's WGFX-FM.



(Photo credit: © USA Today Sports Images) Smith, who has caught 10 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown through Tennessee's first three games, started in place of injured junior wide receiver Von Pearson during the Vols' 34-10 loss to the Sooners before suffering his ankle injury early in the fourth quarter.

Jones announced during his weekly "Vol Calls" radio show that Pearson,Â who continues to be sidelined by the high ankle sprain he suffered Sept. 6 against Arkansas State, also will not travel with the team for Saturday's game at Georgia.

With Smith and Pearson sidelined, true freshman Josh Malone is expected to take on a larger role — and perhaps even make his first career start — Saturday against the the Bulldogs.