Sad for Tennessee Volunteers:He will not return..

Football in Tennessee took a serious hit on Tuesday. Volunteers tight end James Brown and linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. have announced their retirements, according to Jeremy Pruitt.

James Brown and Darrin Kirkland Jr.’s futures were finally addressed for Tennessee football on Tuesday, following a plethora of inquiries regarding their situation. Additionally, neither of them nor the Vols were pleased with the news.

After multiple injuries, both players are retiring from the game. Prior to dealing with an injury this spring, Kirkland, who would have been starting his redshirt senior season, notably missed all of 2017 and a portion of 2016. Brown, who would have been a redshirt sophomore, never participated in a Rocky Top down and has undergone two shoulder surgeries.

The WNML’s Jimmy Hyams tweeted the announcement that both are quitting football. The first person to confirm it was Jeremy Pruitt, who also mentioned that Kirkland is a master’s student and will be interning in Washington, D.C. for the summer in the business field.

The more significant loss for Tennessee football was Kirkland. Even though he struggled with injuries, he was always a very valuable player when he did play. That goes all the way back to 2015, during his first year of college.

Early in the season, Kirkland took Colton Jumper’s place as the middle linebacker starter and was chosen for the SEC. When he was healthy throughout his career, he was the Vols’ mainstay at linebacker.

Kirkland was adept at picking up schemes quickly due to his photographic memory. Because of this, he was able to assist the team in implementing Pruitt’s 3–4 scheme during last year’s transition. He will therefore be sorely missed.

In his absence, the Vols will probably start Daniel Bituli at inside linebacker alongside Will Ignont, Shanon Reid, or Solon Page III. Henry To’oto’o, Quavaris Crouch, and JJ Peterson might also be contenders to start at the position.

It’s obvious that things have changed at outside linebacker, where Jordan Allen, Deandre Johnson, and Kivon Bennett are all in the rotation and Darrell Taylor has been solidly replaced as a starter. That position is therefore established.