You’re reading about a guy who has only played in two games on the year because he had to clean up a minor injury during the first two weeks of the season, and he has only seen significant action in one game. But in that one game, against the Florida Gators to be specific, Daniel Bituli showed why he’s the leader of the team.
Bituli came away with six tackles and two sacks in that game, and he also forced a fumble. That was his first game back fully healthy, and he showed why Jeremy Pruitt has put a ton of faith in him. A huge reason Tennessee football lost its first two games was due to the inexperience at inside linebacker without Bituli on the field.
Now that he’s back, he could make a huge impact. Already, he is showing his potential, and there’s no denying that he’s the best player on the defense. Pruitt said he always wanted linebackers who could play all four positions within that unit, and Bituli right now is the only experienced linebacker who is able to do just that.
With a bye week to get fully healthy, all he needs to do is keep up the elite play he showed against the Florida Gators, and Rocky Top could really see a turnaround. Bituli’s return is that significant for the defense and the team as a whole, so watch out.