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Tennessee football Smokey Points: Top 5 Vols performers vs. UTEP Miners

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: Running back Madre London #31 of the Tennessee Volunteers is tackled by the UTEP Miners defense during the second half of the game between the UTEP Miners and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-0. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: Running back Madre London #31 of the Tennessee Volunteers is tackled by the UTEP Miners defense during the second half of the game between the UTEP Miners and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-0. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Darrin Kirkland Jr. continues to make this list on a weekly basis. He’s earned a helmet sticker through each of Tennessee football’s first three games, and that’s highly impressive for a guy who missed all of spring ball and all of last year due to injury.

We said early on that Kirkland could offset the difficulties of the Vols’ transition to a 3-4 defense at linebacker because of his photographic memory. He’s a very smart player who also has tons of athleticism. That all showed once again on Saturday.

Kirkland only had three tackles in limited action, but he picked up a major sack on Kai Locksley. The play came after Jonathan Kongbo chased Locksley down, but given Locksley’s mobility, he was able to stay alive. It took Kirkland to close the deal.

On top of that, Kirkland had a quarterback hurry of his own. So he’s found ways to be an impact player in different ways each week, from tackling to rushing the quarterback to stopping the run to creating turnovers in coverage.

The guy continues to be in the right position at the right times, and it showed again on Saturday. Jeremy Pruitt is limiting him through these early games because of his injuries, but it doesn’t matter. Kirkland is still managing to make huge plays.

With the Florida Gators’ spread offense coming to town this week, Kirkland will be crucial for the Vols once again. But after Saturday, he’s shown he can deliver whenever his team needs him to. And that’s a huge deal.

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