Brian Jean-Mary, Tennessee LB coach, assesses LB room following Keenan Pili injury
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Tennessee football will be without starting linebacker Keenan Pili for some time as he rehabs an injury suffered in Week 1 against Virginia.
That leaves a hole that Tennessee needs to fill with some talented, yet less experienced players at LB. Elijah Herring, Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander all played reps at linebacker last week during the Vols’ ugly win over Austin Peay.
On Tuesday, Vols LB coach Brian Jean-Mary addressed the situation the LB room is in. He insisted to reporters that the starters at LB will have earned it in practice and that there won’t be a “rotation for the sake of rotation.”
Jean-Mary says that the guys who practice well are going to play. Not going to be a rotation for the sake of rotation. You earn your spot to play or don’t play.
“The rotation starts because we feel we have 4-5 guys that practice at a high level and we feel can play.”
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 12, 2023
For what it’s worth, at least 1 linebacker spot is set in stone. Aaron Beasley has been perhaps Tennessee’s best player so far this season after a pair of strong performances against Virginia and especially Austin Peay.
Jean-Mary offered an assessment of both Telander and Herring Tuesday as well. Here’s what he had to say about Telander:
Tennessee LB Brian Jean-Mary on Jeremiah Telander: All in all, we were impressed by his effort, one. But he played fast and was physical which is a calling card for him.
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 12, 2023
And here’s his comments on Herring, who started last week alongside Beasley.
Tennessee linebacker coach Brian Jean-Mary says Elijah Herring was ready for a starting spot because of the first team reps he got in about half of spring practice because Keenan Pili was injured.
— Ryan Schumpert (@rschump00) September 12, 2023
The Vols travel to The Swamp this week to take on Florida, looking for their first win in Gainesville since 2003.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
