KNOXVILLE - Tennessee's thinnest position took two big hits last week.
Linebacker Herman Lathers fractured his ankle during a 7-on-7 session Wednesday, and the junior will have surgery this week and likely won't be ready for the start of the 2011 season.
After a source told the Times Free Press about Lathers' injury Saturday afternoon, Jimmy Stanton, UT's associate athletic director for communications, confirmed it later Saturday night.
Stanton also said reserve linebacker Greg King had arthroscopic surgery Friday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, but the junior from Memphis, who's battled knee injuries throughout his UT career, is expected to be ready for preseason camp in August.
The 6-foot, 220-pound Lathers, who missed all of spring practice following offseason shoulder surgery, was UT's leading returning tackler and started all 12 games last season. Even with his absence, he was listed as a starter at weakside linebacker on the post-spring depth chart.
UT also lost departed senior linebackers Nick Reveiz and LaMarcus Thompson, leaving a group short on experience and even shorter on size.