Tag: Keenan Pili

Josh Heupel discusses who could take over defensive in-helmet communication duties

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel discusses who could take over defensive in-helmet communication duties for Keenan Pili.

The Third Saturday in October rivalry between Tennessee and Alabama will be renewed on Saturday in Week 8 at Neyland Stadium (3:30 p.m. EDT, ABC).

On Monday, fourth-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel announced redshirt senior linebacker Keenan Pili will miss the remainder of the season due to an ACL injury. Pili used in-helmet communication during the Vols’ first six games this season.

Heupel discussed who could potentially take over defensive in-helmet communication against Alabama.

“Haven’t finalized that,” Heupel said. “Could be Arion (Carter), could be (Jeremiah) Telander that takes that over.”

Carter has appeared in six games in 2024, recording 27 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, one interception and four pass deflections. Telander has also appeared in six contests for the Vols this season, totaling 18 tackles, one tackle for a loss, one pass deflection and one fumble recovery.

READ: 2024 SEC football power rankings after Week 7

Jeremiah Telander. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Tennessee linebacker out for remainder of season

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel announced Vols’ linebacker is out for the remainder of the 2024 football season.

No. 10 Tennessee (5-1, 1-1 SEC) will host No. 7 Alabama (5-1, 2-1 SEC) in Week 8 at Neyland Stadium.

Fourth-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with media on Monday to kick off game week.

Heupel confirmed Tennessee redshirt senior linebacker Keenan Pili suffered an ACL injury last week against Florida and will be out for the remainder of the season.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker appeared in six contests for the Vols in 2024. He recorded 29 tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss.

Pili appeared in one game last season for Tennessee after transferring from BYU. He recorded four tackles and played 29 snaps in the Vols’ 2023 season-opening win versus Virginia. Pili suffered an upper-body injury and missed the remainder of last season.

He played at BYU from 2019-22. Pili appeared in 36 games for the Cougars, recording 190 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, three sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, four pass break-ups and two quarterback hurries.

He redshirted as a true freshman in 2016 at BYU before serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Orlando, Florida from 2017-19.

READ: 2024 SEC football power rankings after Week 7

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Tim Banks discusses Keenan Pili returning to Vols’ defense

Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks discusses linebacker Keenan Pili returning to the Vols’ defense in 2024.

Redshirt senior linebacker Keenan Pili is in his second season with Tennessee.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Pili appeared in one game last season for the Vols. He recorded four tackles and played 29 snaps in Tennessee’s season-opening win versus Virginia in 2023. Pili suffered an upper-body injury and missed the final 11 games during the regular-season.

Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks met with media on Tuesday ahead of the Vols’ Week 3 matchup with Kent State. He discussed having Pili returning the Vols’ defense this season.

“For me, it is very satisfying,” Banks said. “He is a kid who has worked his tail off. He got hurt early in the season last year. I know how tough that was for him, but he stayed locked in. He stayed with the team. He continued to push guys and learn our defense, so to finally see him see the fruits of his efforts, man listen, I feel like a proud dad to see him go out there and do what he did.

“He is a big athlete, we knew that. He has great stamina. We think he is only going to get better as he continues to grow in this defense, so we are excited for him.”

Through two games this season, Pili has recorded six tackles.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Student-athletes announced to represent Tennessee at SEC media days

Three Tennessee student-athletes are announced to represent the Vols at 2024 SEC media days.

Southeastern Conference football media days will be held July 15-18 at Omni Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

The 2024 football season will feature Oklahoma and Texas competing in the SEC. The SEC will also not have East and West divisions this season.

Tennessee announced three student-athletes who will represent the Vols, alongside head coach Josh Heupel, at SEC media days in Dallas.

Offensive lineman Cooper Mays, linebacker Keenan Pili and defensive lineman Omari Thomas will attend SEC media days on July 16. An entire 2024 SEC media days schedule can be viewed here.

Tennessee will kick off its upcoming season versus Chattanooga on Aug. 31 at Neyland Stadium.

READ: Tennessee’s projected offensive starting lineup for 2024 football season

Vols’ linebacker Keenan Pili discusses recovery process

Tennessee linebacker Keenan Pili discusses his recovery process.

Redshirt senior linebacker Keenan Pili announced he will return to Tennessee for a seventh collegiate season in 2024.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker appeared in one game for the Vols in 2023. He recorded four tackles and played 29 snaps in Tennessee’s season-opening win versus Virginia. Pili suffered an upper-body injury and missed the final 11 games during the regular-season.

Pili met with media on Monday and discussed where he is physically right now during the recovery process.

“I’ve been told many times that I’m really ahead of schedule for where the track says I should be,” he said. “I’m just taking that day-by-day, and understanding I’m not playing the bowl game, so I’m just trying to make sure I get fully healthy as I progress along the way. Not really rushing anything, getting stronger, getting back, feeling better, so I’m excited.”

PHOTOS: Tennessee football defeats Virginia in Nashville to open 2023 season

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Linebacker Keenan Pili will return to Tennessee for seventh collegiate season

Linebacker Keenan Pili will return to Tennessee for a seventh collegiate season.

Senior linebacker Keenan Pili will return to Tennessee for a seventh collegiate season in 2024.

His NCAA extension of eligibility waiver was granted on Friday.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Pili appeared in one game for the Vols in 2023. He recorded four tackles and played 29 snaps in Tennessee’s season-opening win versus Virginia. Pili suffered an upper-body injury and missed the final 11 games during the regular-season.

Pili played at BYU from 2019-22. He appeared in 36 games at BYU, recording 190 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, three sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, four pass break-ups and two quarterback hurries.

Pili redshirted as a true freshman in 2016 at BYU before serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Orlando, Florida from 2017-19.

PHOTOS: Tennessee football defeats Virginia in Nashville to open 2023 season

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Vols’ linebacker Keenan Pili ‘expected to return’ for another season

Tennessee linebacker Keenan Pili expected to return for another season.

Redshirt senior linebacker Keenan Pili is expected to return to Tennessee in 2024, according to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.

“Tennessee senior linebacker Keenan Pili is expected to return to the Vols for another season instead of heading to the NFL,” Zenitz said.

Pili suffered an injury during Tennessee’s season-opening win versus Virginia. He played 29 snaps and recorded four tackles against the Cavaliers.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker transferred to Tennessee from BYU ahead of the 2023 season.

Pili played at BYU from 2019-22. He appeared in 36 games at BYU, recording 190 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, three sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, four pass break-ups and two quarterback hurries.

PHOTOS: Tennessee football defeats Virginia in Nashville to open 2023 season

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Linebacker Keenan Pili to miss time for Vols

Linebacker Keenan Pili to miss time for the Vols.

Redshirt senior linebacker Keenan Pili suffered an injury during Tennessee’s season-opening win versus Virginia.

Third-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel discussed Pili’s status on Wednesday’s Southeastern Conference coaches media teleconference.

Heupel mentioned Pili will miss a couple of weeks and does not believe his injury is season-ending.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker recorded four tackles in his Tennessee debut versus Virginia in Week 1.

He transferred to Tennessee from BYU ahead of the 2023 season.

No. 9 Tennessee (1-0, 0-0 SEC) will host Austin Peay (0-1, 0-0 ASUN) on Saturday at Neyland Stadium (5 p.m. EDT, SEC Network+).

PHOTOS: Tennessee football defeats Virginia in Nashville to open 2023 season

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Tim Banks discusses Keenan Pili’s ‘ability to command the defense’

Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks discusses Keenan Pili’s ability to command the defense.

Redshirt senior linebacker Keenan Pili is in his first season at Tennessee after transferring from BYU.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker recorded four tackles in his Tennessee debut versus Virginia in Week 1.

Third-year Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks discussed Pili’s performance on Tuesday.

“Just everything that he brought to practice since he’s been here, just great leadership, communication,” Banks said. “Just having the ability to command the defense. Just making sure the front is where it needs to be, communicating with (Aaron) Beasley, making sure that everybody is where they need to be at all times is the number one thing. Just his overall physicality with the size that he has.

“You want big guys, but obviously in this day and age, they have to be able to function in space and he’s able to do those things for us. We’re very pleased with what he brought, just his overall toughness, and smarts, and communication skills. We’re excited for him.”

PHOTOS: Tennessee football defeats Virginia in Nashville to open 2023 season

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Keenan Pili is bringing physicality, leadership to Tennessee

BYU linebacker transfer Keenan Pili is bringing physicality and leadership to Tennessee.

Second-year head coach Josh Heupel and the Vols received a linebacker transfer commitment on Wednesday.

Keenan Pili announced his commitment to Tennessee.

The 6-foot-3, 237-pound Pili played at BYU from 2019-22. He played at Tennessee on Sept. 7, 2019, recording two tackles in the Cougars’ 29-26 double-overtime victory.

Pili appeared in 36 games at BYU, recording 190 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, three sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, four pass break-ups and two quarterback hurries.

Jarom Jordan with BYU TV discussed Pili and his time with the Cougars.

“He is awesome, good teammate, very skilled middle linebacker,” Jordan told Vols Wire. “He tore his ACL in 2021 and was not the same player in 2022. He is a super physical player and a leader.”

Pili was as a team captain at BYU.

He served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Orlando, Florida from 2017-19.

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