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It’s no secret that Tennessee soccer must improve considerably on protection. One space of focus for Josh Heupel and the Vols has been at linebacker. UT added two four-stars in Arion Carter and Jalen Smith within the class together with three-star Jeremiah Telander.
Nicely, regardless of two of the three principal rotational gamers at linebacker from this previous yr nearly sure to be again in Aaron Beasley and Juwan Mitchell, Heupel didn’t settle. He went out and added a veteran in BYU Cougars switch linebacker Keenan Pili.
A fifth-year junior, Pili has two years of eligibility left at most, seemingly only one. The Provo, Utah, native dedicated to BYU in 2016 after which went on a Mormon mission journey in 2017 and 2018 earlier than returning in 2019. He revealed his switch to Tennessee soccer on Twitter Wednesday.
HOME 🍊 COMMITTED pic.twitter.com/XVDCHUUhAZ
— Keenan Pili (@KeenanPili7) December 21, 2022
The sticking level for Pili’s eligibility is medical. He redshirted in 2016, and the 2020 COVID season didn’t depend towards eligibility. Nonetheless, he then suffered a season-ending damage three video games into 2021, so he may doubtlessly take a second medical redshirt.
That might imply solely 2019 and 2022 counted towards his eligibility, so he may have two years left. Both approach, he’s a confirmed linebacker with loads of expertise, and it’s fairly clear that Heupel has been emphasizing extra depth there.
Pili, who stands at 6’3″ 237 kilos, had 4 tackles for a loss, a sack, a cross deflection, a compelled fumble, a fumble restoration and 62 complete tackles, 29 of which have been solo. That was getting back from an ACL damage in 2021. He was All-Impartial in 2020.
Merely put, Pili can ball. With Jeremy Banks seemingly gone after collaborating in Senior Day festivities a month in the past, Pili may step in and begin instantly. The graduate of Timpview Excessive Faculty is clearly a proficient participant and provides Tim Banks numerous versatility.
Maybe the rationale Heupel was so targeted on including a veteran linebacker was what he noticed from Tennessee soccer’s protection on the South Carolina Gamecocks with out Jeremy Banks. The blitz packages that Tim Banks had been operating all yr weren’t there, and it appeared as if they only felt restricted with out their principal linebacker.
Now, although, Heupel has two guys with elite potential, one man with confirmed expertise and a fourth participant for depth. Additionally, Mitchell must be a lot more healthy subsequent yr, as he spent this yr nonetheless getting again right into a rhythm after his personal season-ending damage.
Taking all this into consideration, Pili is a large pickup, and it actually reveals the place Heupel’s thoughts is at. He is aware of he simply wants the appropriate quarterback for his offense, but it surely’s clear Tennessee soccer wants higher personnel at most spots on protection, and Pili supplies that instantly.
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