Keenan Pili reportedly makes decision on future with Tennessee after missing majority of 2023

Keenan Pili has reportedly come to a decision.

The Tennessee linebacker announced is expected to return to Knoxville for a final season of college football in 2024. The former BYU LB joined the Vols this past offseason but appeared in just 1 game, the season opener against Virginia.

Pili suffered an upper body injury that, at first, looked like it would only sideline him a month or 2. However, Pili ended up missing the entire season.

Pili would need the NCAA to grant another season of eligibility.

Tennessee senior linebacker Keenan Pili is expected to return to the Vols for another season instead of heading to the NFL, sources tell @247sports.

Pili, a former BYU transfer, missed most of the year due to injury. Was a two-time team captain at BYU.https://t.co/O5dxjyk2jo pic.twitter.com/UpGW502Uzp

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 5, 2023

As you can see, Pili was a 2-time captain at BYU. He finished 2022 as the Cougars’ 2nd-leading tackler and collected 62 tackles with 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack and a forced fumble.

Pili originally entered college football in 2016 but took 2 years away from football to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Orlando.

Pili’s return is huge for Tennessee, which will lose star LB Aaron Beasley to the NFL Draft this offseason.