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Keenan Pili thanked Tennessee fans and teammates in a letter he shared on social media Wednesday afternoon.
The star Volunteer linebacker will miss the rest of the 2024 season with an ACL injury sustained in the game against Florida this past weekend. A seventh-year senior, Pili has now seen each of his last 3 seasons of college football cut short because of injury.
“To the game of football, I don’t know what the future holds, but thank you for a lifetime of memories I will cherish and never forget,” he said. “As hard and confusing as life may be, I thank my Father in Heaven for allowing me to play this game, and I trust in His Plan.”
BEAT BAMA pic.twitter.com/e3caY9Qtu6
— Keenan Pili (@KeenanPili7) October 16, 2024
Pili spent 5 years at BYU before transferring to Tennessee. He was a captain for the Cougars in his final season, but an ACL injury ended that year after 3 games. He earned a starting role at inside linebacker and was voted a captain for Tennessee right away in 2023, but a triceps injury ended the year prematurely.
He started the first 6 games for the Vols this season.
“There’s nobody that represents Tennessee better than him,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said on Monday. “He’s a great leader and will continue to be that inside of our building. Just heartbroken for him and his family. A guy that does absolutely everything right and, you know, is special. A special player but a special person too. He has got a great future.”
Pili’s full message is below. He captioned it with “BEAT BAMA.”
Vol Nation —
To my brothers, coaches and staff, thank you for helping me become a better man on and off the field. Let’s go finish what we started!
To my family, wife and baby boy on the way, thank you for sacrificing for me to live my dream. I hope I made you proud.
To Tennessee, friends and fans, thank you for treating me as family and giving me a place I can always call home. Your love and support has been felt during this time.
To the game of football, I don’t know what the future holds, but thank you for a lifetime of memories I will cherish and never forget.
As hard and confusing as life may be, I thank my Father in Heaven for allowing me to play this game, and I trust in His Plan.
Same book, new chapter.
— Keenan Pili
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
