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5 Vols That Are Key To Tennessee’s Success In 2017

By Zach Ragan

GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 26: Head coach Butch Jones of the Tennessee Volunteers cheers during a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 26: Head coach Butch Jones of the Tennessee Volunteers cheers during a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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ATHENS, GA – OCTOBER 1: Members of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrate after the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Darrin Kirkland Jr — Linebacker

The Vols’ three biggest defensive leaders — Derek Barnett, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, and Cam Sutton — are all now NFL players.

That means defensive coordinator Bob Shoop has a big hole to fill on defense when it comes to leadership.

And Darrin Kirkland Jr is the guy that Vols need to step-up to become Tennessee’s defensive leader.

It’s a role that Kirkland has seemed to embrace, telling the media during spring practice “I find myself being the main guy, the leader of the defense and I’ve embraced that role and I know I have to bring it every day.”

Shoop told Kirkland this spring that he needs the junior linebacker to be an extra coach on the field — much like Reeves-Maybin was for the Volunteers.

The talent and intelligence is there for Kirkland (his football smarts are up there with anyone’s on the team). The key for him this season will be staying healthy.

Kirkland battled a nagging ankle injury in 2016 that forced him to miss five games.

If Tennessee is going to compete for the SEC East in 2017, they need a healthy Kirkland all season long.

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