The hits keep coming for Butch Jones and his ninth ranked Volunteers. The injury bug has been a riddle that has been unsolvable so far in 2016. Add in the news of Preston Williams departure earlier this evening and Tennessee could lineup with as many as nine starters from the Appalachian State game either out due to an injury, dismissal or personal decision. One starter the Vols were hoping to get back this week is linebacker Darren Kirkland Jr. Defensive coordinator Bob Shoop said that a decision would be made based on how effective Kirkland could be, but sources told Volquest Wednesday night that the sophomore's effectiveness has not been improving as much as everyone had hoped this week making him appear more doubtful than questionable at this point to see the field against top ranked Alabama.
Kirkland Jr. was off to a solid start in 2016 with 16 tackles and a sack in just over a game and a half of action before going down at the Battle at Bristol with an ankle injury. Since then, he spent several weeks in a boot before seeing that removed before the Georgia game. He has continued to rehab and started running before the Texas A&M game last week, before returning to the practice field earlier this week, to test the progress of his ankle.
Back to Williams, it's interesting in that he got off to a fast start against Appalachian State, but has seen his reps drop. A place that Williams never was a factor was special teams where Jones has been openly asking/challenging players to step up and play a role in the kicking game.
Kirkland Jr. was off to a solid start in 2016 with 16 tackles and a sack in just over a game and a half of action before going down at the Battle at Bristol with an ankle injury. Since then, he spent several weeks in a boot before seeing that removed before the Georgia game. He has continued to rehab and started running before the Texas A&M game last week, before returning to the practice field earlier this week, to test the progress of his ankle.
Back to Williams, it's interesting in that he got off to a fast start against Appalachian State, but has seen his reps drop. A place that Williams never was a factor was special teams where Jones has been openly asking/challenging players to step up and play a role in the kicking game.
