Tennessee Pound Pili out for season with torn ACL

• Chris Low, ESPN Senior WriterOct 14, 2024, 01:50 PM ET

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  • College football reporter
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2007
  • Graduate of the University of Tennessee

Tennessee will lack beginning middle linebacker and team captain Keenan Pili for the rest of the season after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his best knee in Saturday’s overtime victory against Florida, coach Josh Heupel stated Monday.Pili is tied for Tennessee’s group lead in total takes on with 29. He remained in his seventh season of college football after starting his profession at BYU. He redshirted his first season at BYU in 2016 and then served a two-year church mission from 2017 to 2019. Editor’s Picks 2 Related Heupel was

emotional after

Saturday’s win

in discussing what Pili has implied to Tennessee throughout his two injury-plagued seasons in Knoxville and reiterated those beliefs Monday. A year back, Pili injured his triceps muscles in the first game and missed the remainder of the season. He was approved a medical redshirt to return for his seventh season. “I stated it after the [Florida] game that there’s nobody that represents Tennessee better than him,”Heupel stated Monday.”He’s an excellent leader and will continue to be that inside of our building. Heartbroken for him and his household. A guy that does definitely everything right. Unique player, however an unique individual, too. He’s got a terrific future. “Pili was a key part of a Tennessee defense that hasn’t permitted more than 19 points

in its very first six games this season. The Vols are ranked 2nd nationally in overall defense(249.8 backyards per game)and fourth nationally in scoring defense(10.7 points per game). They’re quiting simply 4.04 lawns per play, which also ranks 2nd nationally.Sophomore Jeremiah Telander will action in for Pili at middle linebacker, and junior Kalib Perry will likewise be in line for

more playing time. Telander has actually played in all 6 games this season and was the Vols’ leading freshman tackler a year earlier.