Tennessee starting linebacker Keenan Pili will miss the remainder of the season with an ACL injury, coach Josh Heupel announced Monday. Pili served as a team captain and handled the Volunteers' in-helmet communication on the defensive side of the ball. His 29 total tackles through six games were tied for the team lead.
"I said it after the (Florida) game, there's nobody that represents Tennessee better than him," Heupel said. "[He] is a great leader and will continue to be that inside of our building. Heartbroken for him and his family. A guy that does absolutely everything right. Special player but special person, too. He's got a great future."
Pili suffered the injury during a tackle in the first quarter of Tennessee's Week 7 win against Florida. He was able to walk off the field and to the locker room with the help of trainers, but he returned to the sideline later with crutches and a bulky brace on his right knee.
This is the third season-ending injury for Pili since 2021 and the second involving his ACL. Pili suffered a triceps injury in Tennessee's 2023 season opener -- his first game with the Vols -- that kept him sidelined the rest of the year. He was granted a medical redshirt to return for a seventh season of college football in 2024.
Prior to transferring to Tennessee, Pili spent five years at BYU and was a two-time captain for the Cougars. He emerged as a starting option in 2020 and finished his first full year as a starter in 2022 with 62 tackles, including four tackles for a loss.
Tennessee is deep at linebacker, but the Vols don't have many options with Pili's experience. Sophomore Arion Carter, who had an interception in the Florida game, will have to emerge as a leader quickly. He's started alongside Pili in most games thus far and is third on the team with 27 tackles. His 4.5 tackles for loss is also tied for the team lead.
Sophomore Jeremiah Telander will also see an uptick in playing time -- perhaps even a starting role -- while the Vols will have to get redshirt freshman Jalen Smith and veteran Kalib Perry ready for an increased workload.
