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Tennessee Vols: 5 Players That Could Derail UT’s Season If They Are Lost

By Zach Ragan

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: A view of the inside of Neyland Stadium during a game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers on September 15, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: A view of the inside of Neyland Stadium during a game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers on September 15, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 30: Head coach Butch Jones of the University of Tennessee Volunteers reacts on the sideline during the second half of a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers of the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium on December 30, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

Darrin Kirkland Jr — Linebacker (Junior)

Darrin Kirkland Jr only played in eight games as a sophomore in 2016, but with Jalen Reeves-Maybin gone, the Vols will need a full season from the junior linebacker in 2017.

Kirkland has an extremely high football IQ, and he’s a leader. That’s something Tennessee absolutely has to have in order to be successful in 2017.

Having a healthy Kirkland, and all indications are that he’s healthy right now, is essential to the Vols’ hopes to win the SEC East.

I’ll go as far as saying that if Kirkland can’t stay healthy this season, then Tennessee’s win/loss record will be directly affected.

Kirkland is basically an extension of Bob Shoop on the field. There are plenty of talented players the Vols can rely on in 2017, but Kirkland is by far the most important.

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