Shy Tuttle’s career at Tennessee hasn’t gotten off to a great start, as the former 4-star recruit has had both of his seasons in Knoxville cut short due to leg injuries.

Coming off a season-ending knee injury last year, Tuttle isn’t expected to be ready to play during the Vols’ Week 1 matchup against Georgia Tech on Monday, Sept. 4.

However, Tennessee defensive line coach Brady Hoke said Tuttle has made a lot of progress in recent weeks and told 247Sports that it’s not impossible that Tuttle suits up for Week 1:

“I think he’s made great progress the last, I don’t know, two weeks,” Hoke said Friday afternoon. “I’m not a trainer, obviously, or a doctor, but I know what he tells me and how good he feels. We got him in some real team stuff (Thursday) against the offense, which was something he hadn’t done, and I think he felt real good about it.”

If Tuttle is able to play out of the gates, it’ll be a big boost for the Vols’ defense, as the 6-2, 310-pound lineman is a force on the inside.

When healthy and playing in a part-time role the past two years, he’s been effective, recording 19 tackles (one for a loss), recovering two fumbles and defending two passes.