Pili to Miss Remainder of Season with ACL Tear
Credit: University of Tennessee Athletics
By Tucker Harlin
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel announced the Vols have lost star linebacker Keenan Pili to an ACL tear for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Tennessee LB Keenan Pili will miss the remainder of the 2024 season with a torn ACL, Josh Heupel announced🙏
— On3 (@On3sports) October 14, 2024
Pili is the Vols' leading tackler this season. https://t.co/Y4Op9xwgBD pic.twitter.com/JatmIBwJZS
Pili was down for an extended period of time after the injury and could be seen on crutches from the Tennessee sideline later in the game. It’s the second time in as many seasons the Vols have lost Pili to a season-ending injury as he left the 2023 opener with a torn tricep.
Pili wasn’t the only player to tear an ACL in Neyland Stadium Saturday as Florida has now lost quarterback Graham Mertz for the season.
Thank you, Gator Nation 🐊 pic.twitter.com/8pKEbwaos6
— Graham Mertz (@GrahamMertz5) October 14, 2024
So where does Tennessee go at linebacker without Pili? Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander are both strong as starters, but the loss of Pili is a gut punch to the depth of this group.
As of right now, Edwin Spillman has dealt with injuries that have kept him on the sideline for all of SEC play. I’m not suggesting Tennessee needed Spillman in each of those three games, but the injury to Pili changes the entire outlook.
We’ve seen both Kalib Perry and Jalen Smith get more run in recent weeks, something we’ll see more of given the circumstances around this injury. Perry has been strong at times in his appearances, but Smith is still adapting to increased playing time.
