Tennessee linebacker Keenan Pili is set to be a captain for the Vols against Alabama this Saturday despite suffering a season-ending injury against Florida last week.
Tennessee announced five veteran captains for Saturday’s game on Friday including Pili, defensive tackle Omari Thomas, wide receiver Bru McCoy, center Cooper Mays, and long snapper Matthew Salasky.
tomorrow’s captains#GBO 🍊 pic.twitter.com/F58wEE2nt3
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) October 18, 2024
The Vols are running back the same captains as the Florida game with the addition of McCoy to the mix. Salansky is Tennessee’s longest-running captain with a spot in all seven contests so far while Pili has been a captain for five of Tennessee’s seven games including Alabama.
Thomas and Mays have also been popular captain picks with both players racking up four games each on the season.
Here’s a look at Tennessee’s captain history this season:
Chattanooga: WR Bru McCoy, LS Matthew Salansky, DL Omari Thomas, LB Keenan Pili
NC State: LB Keenan Pili, DL Elijah Simmons, OL Cooper Mays, LS Matthew Salansky
Kent State: OL Dayne Davis, LB Arion Carter, LB Jeremiah Telander, LS Matthew Salansky
Oklahoma: DL Omari Thomas, LB Keenan Pili, OL Cooper Mays, RB Dylan Sampson, LS Matthew Salansky
Arkansas: S Andre Turrentine, DL Elijah Simmons, RB Dylan Sampson, TE Miles Kitselman, LS Matthew Salansky
Florida: LB Keenan Pili, C Cooper Mays, DT Omari Thomas, LS Matthew Salansky
Alabama: LB Keenan Pili, C Cooper Mays, DT Omari Thomas, LS Matthew Salansky, WR Bru McCoy
More from RTI: Game Line: Alabama Football Favorites Against Tennessee As Kick Off Approaches
Aside from Pili who won’t be suited up on Saturday, the four other Tennessee captains all played in big roles during Alabama’s last visit to Rocky Top in 2022. Thomas recorded a sack and tackle for loss in 2022, McCoy hauled in a catch to set up Tennessee’s game-winning field goal, Mays was Tennessee’s starting center, and Salansky handled the Vols’ long-snapping duties.
All four will be relied upon for big games this Saturday as the Vols look to keep their playoff chances alive against the Crimson Tide.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for live, on-site coverage of the Third Saturday in October rivalry clash between No. 11 Tennessee and No. 7 Alabama on Saturday. The game will be played at 3:30 p.m. ET from Neyland Stadium.
