With significant turnover happening in the linebacker room over the offseason, opportunity abounds heading into the season.
Among the biggest changes was the departure of assistant coach Brian Jean-Mary, setting up the arrival of former Washington assistant coach William Inge to lead Tennessee’s linebackers. Inge helped lead Washington to the National Championship last season and has seamlessly found his way in Knoxville since his arrival. Tennessee’s players have raved about Inge over the offseason, highlighting his player-led mentality as an empowering aspect of his room.
“As far as Coach Inge, he’s exactly what you think he would be,” DC Tim Banks said on Friday. “He’s a veteran coach. He has been a coordinator. He has a great personality that those guys kind of can to relate to. He keeps it fun, he keeps it light. But at the same time, he’s probably one of the better teachers I’ve been around. I’m excited about Coach Inge. I’ve said ever since I’ve been here, we’ve got a great staff and he’s been a great addition to that.”
Veteran linebacker Keenan Pili will be relied on to be the quarterback of the defense, if you will, in his first true playing season for Tennessee. Pili transferred to Tennessee before the 2023 season but suffered a season-ending injury in the opening game. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker is poised for a big season ahead but also has the task of helping bring along the Vols’ young linebacker room.
Tennessee boasts a pair of second-year linebackers who will have an increased role this season, and Pili is excited about both of them.
Arion Carter, a linebacker who saw his freshman season cut short due to injury, has been tagged as a breakout candidate by several media members covering Tennessee. Carter has been hard at work this offseason in preparation for his return and has impressed on the field this fall.
“AC? AC’s AC, man,” Pili said with a grin. “He’s a freak of nature. Amazing ball player. Grown in being a good leader for our team, as well. Someone who may be younger but you could never tell by the way he works and, obviously, had an amazing fall camp. Felt like he’s taking steps towards becoming a great player and a great asset on our defense. He’s someone that comes in every day, early, locked in. When I’m doing film, he’s doing film. We do it together. He’s someone I’ve been able to get really close to over this offseason, especially now. Can’t wait to see what he has in store.”
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Carter enters his second season ready to go and bursting with energy, but it was another freshman linebacker who stepped up last season with the injuries to both Pili and Carter. Tennessee sophomore Jeremiah Telander is known as a grit guy on the team – hard-working, nose to the ground, ready to do whatever it takes. Telander impressed during his debut season but also showed that his ceiling hasn’t been set yet. Expectations are high for Telander in Tennessee’s linebacker rotation this season, but all signs point to the sophomore being ready for the challenge.
“Jeremiah’s come in since day one and really, for that group as a whole, that class that came in, one of the most locked-in freshman groups I’ve ever seen,” Pili said on Friday. “But Jeremiah specifically, from day one, you can feel his intensity when he came in the room, when he took the field. He’s kind of got those things you can’t teach – that competitive nature on the field, game day, you’re going to know when Telander is on the field because of the way he plays and the way he prepares. I think that’s something I’ve always appreciated about him. No matter what we’re doing – film, practice, weightlifting – that guy’s locked in and he’s pushing everybody. That’s just his attitude and what he brings to the team.”
Pili and Carter are likely going to be Tennessee’s starting linebackers, but Banks did say on Friday that he expects great rotation within that group. That will give Telander more opportunities throughout the game, in addition to junior Kalib Perry and redshirt freshman Jalen Smith.
“We have more depth than we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Banks said of the LB room on Friday. “I’m really excited about that group. I think we’ve done a really good job recruiting in that room. I think the sky’s the limit for those guys. We going to play a lot more guys there than we have in the past. It’s just because they’ve earned it.”
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee football coverage throughout the fall.
