As Tennessee continues to wait on any developments in the Cade Mays eligibility saga, the Vols coach offered a timeline for when they would need to know.

“I guess before we get on the plane,” Pruitt said on the SEC media teleconference about the trip to South Carolina this week. “He’s been working, preparing to play this week and we have a plan either way. I would say before we get on the plane. We have the opportunity at any point in time to choose if we want to go take another job. There’s no penalty for coaches, why should there be one for student-athletes?”

The Mays transfer from Georgia has been one of several frustrating transfer developments across the SEC this offseason. Players and coaches from around the league have lobbied for the transfers to be able to play, especially in a year when eligibility for all players is not counted against them.

In other news, Pruitt added that freshman RB/TE/WR Dee Beckwith will not travel to South Carolina for the opener. He suffered an ankle injury in practice.

Without Beckwith, the Vols will turn to Ty Chandler and Eric Gray to get the bulk of the carries among Tennessee running backs. They also have freshmen Jabari Small and Tee Hodge.