Former Tennessee linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin is one of the Detroit Lions five captains this season, the team announced Tuesday.
Reeves-Maybin’s teammates voted the fifth year linebacker as Detroit’s “special teams captain”, joining the team’s two offensive and defensive captains.
The Lions selected the Clarkesville, Tennessee native in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft and Reeves-Maybin has been with the team since. Reeves-Maybin enters his fifth professional season with 90 career tackles and half a sack.
While the small linebacker hasn’t earned many starts in his four years with Detroit, the former Vol has been a reliable special teams player which has kept him in the franchise for a significant amount of time.
Reeves-Maybin’s rookie season and 2019 season have been his best— recording 30 and 37 tackles in those seasons respectively. The 6-foot defender has clearly earned the respect of his organization and teammates to earn the special teams captain spot.
Reeves-Maybin shined as a three year starter at Tennessee, recording 240 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and eight sacks. The instate star dealt with injuries his senior season but was spectacular in 2015— his junior season— recording 105 tackles and six sacks.
Ironically, the linebacker made his first impressions at Tennessee on special teams as a freshman. Reeves-Maybin’s blocked punt against Georgia that season almost propelled Butch Jones Vols to an upset over No. 6 Georgia.
Reeves-Maybin and the Lions open up their 2021 season Sunday against San Francisco.
