Keenan Pili discusses his choice to play super senior season in Tennessee again.
Transfer linebacker from BYU When Keenan Pili committed to play football for Tennessee last December, he had a straightforward plan. After playing at Tennessee for his final season of eligibility, he would go on to whatever football or life was in store for him.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72747830/usa_today_21356799.0.jpg)
Those plans were shortly altered. After sustaining a tricep injury in Tennessee’s season opener against Virginia, Pili was limited to just 30 snaps of action and missed the remainder of the campaign.
Pili “knew the injury was bad” right away. At the time, Tennessee coach Josh Heupel expressed optimism that Pili could return by the end of the season but that didn’t happen. The linebacker won’t play in the Citrus Bowl but told the local media Monday that his recovery was ahead of schedule
“I’ve been told many times that I’m really ahead of schedule for where the track says I should be,” Pili said. “I’m just taking that day-by-day, and understanding I’m not playing the bowl game, so I’m just trying to make sure I get fully healthy as I progress along the way. Not really rushing anything, getting stronger, getting back, feeling better, so I’m excited.”
Pili was starting at linebacker beside Aaron Beasley to open the season. The transfer totaled 62 tackles in 2022 at BYU and was going to play a major role in his final college season.
The linebacker was out of eligibility after the 2023 season but had the opportunity to apply for a medical redshirt. First, Pili had extensive conversations with Tennessee coaches about whether he wanted to pursue a medical redshirt.
