10 Newcomers That Could Make An Impact For Vols In 2015
By Zach Ragan
Nov 29, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; General view of the Tennessee Volunteers band prior to the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Darrin Kirkland JR — Linebacker
6’2″/235 lbs
Status: Enrolled
Darrin Kirland JR is a tricky one.
The Vols’ need more linebacker depth (AJ Johnson will be gone next season), but they have some great young, albeit unproven, options to fill the void.
Kirkland is obviously a highly talented linebacker, but where does he fit in?
Jalen Reeves-Maybin is entrenched as an outside linebacker, and it looks like Dillon Bates will be the Vols’ starting middle linebacker next season.
Perhaps Kirkland can play on the other side of Bates in the Vols’ “base formation”, though that’s a formation that’s becoming a bit archaic in Knoxville (Tennessee plays a lot of nickel and if they use three down linemen, it’s Curt Maggitt that shifts to linebacker).
But as we see year after year, talent rises and injuries occur.
Kirkland’s opportunity at the outset of the season may not be clear, but I’ll bet he’s a factor by the end of the year.