Tennessee sophomore running back Daune Morris will miss the remainder of the season after breaking his leg in an early-morning car crash. The single-vehicle wreck happened shortly after midnight on November 13, just hours before the Volunteers were scheduled to travel to College Station for their game against Texas A&M.
The crash involved four parked cars and a fire hydrant, and Morris’s vehicle overturned. Police cited him for reckless driving. The injury is a significant setback for Tennessee as it enters the final stretch of its SEC schedule without one of its most productive runners.
Morris was driving a Dodge Charger with two passengers when he lost control while making a right turn, according to details in the police report. He was wearing a seat belt, and investigators found no indication that drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash. The two passengers declined medical treatment at the scene. Morris was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for evaluation.
The university said Morris sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the off-campus incident. The running back was resting comfortably, and the program expressed its support as he begins his recovery.
## Morris had become a major part of Tennessee’s rushing attack
Across nine games, Morris ran for 434 yards and three touchdowns on 66 carries, averaging 6.6 yards per attempt. He also caught six passes for 35 yards. Those numbers made him Tennessee’s second-leading rusher behind senior DeSean Bishop.
Morris was coming off a standout performance in the Volunteers’ 34-6 win over Kentucky on November 7. He finished with 85 rushing yards and a touchdown on only five carries. His 66-yard scoring run in the first quarter was among the biggest plays of the game.
Bishop has led Tennessee’s backfield this season, recording 1,066 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. With Morris unavailable, Tulane transfer Javin Gordon could be in line for more opportunities. Gordon has gained 129 yards on 28 carries so far. Justin Baker and Hunter Barnes are other options the coaching staff can consider.
Tennessee entered Week 11 with a 7-2 overall record and a 4-2 mark in SEC play. The Volunteers have averaged 216 rushing yards per game, making their ground attack a central part of the offense. Morris’s absence leaves the team with less experience and depth at running back for its remaining games.
## Earlier traffic citation preceded the crash
The November wreck followed a separate traffic citation earlier in the season. In October, shortly after Tennessee defeated Auburn on October 3, Morris was clocked driving 101 mph in a 65-mph zone. He faced misdemeanor charges for speeding and failing to exercise due care. Morris pleaded guilty and paid $507 in court costs and fines.
Police records from the November crash state that the vehicle overturned after Morris lost control. The reckless-driving citation is connected to that incident, while the earlier speeding case was resolved separately.
## Tennessee faces a challenging final stretch
The Volunteers’ next game is a road matchup against Texas A&M, which entered the contest with a 4-5 record. Tennessee is then scheduled to face LSU on November 21 before closing the regular season against Vanderbilt. The team entered the stretch with a College Football Playoff place among its ambitions, making the loss of a key contributor particularly difficult.
Tennessee is also coping with a significant injury on defense. Defensive lineman Tyree Weathersby, the team’s sack leader, was ruled out for the season after sustaining a knee injury in the win over Kentucky.
Morris’s recovery will be the priority as he begins the rehabilitation process for his broken leg. Meanwhile, head coach Josh Heupel and his staff will need to adjust the backfield rotation and find ways to maintain the offense’s production on the ground. With three regular-season games remaining, Tennessee’s other running backs will be asked to take on larger roles.
