Sep 8, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. (34) returns an interception for a touchdown against the East Tennessee State Buccaneers during the second quarter at Neyland Stadium. Photo Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Tennessee linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. has retired from football due to a series of nagging injuries.
Volunteers coach Jeremy Pruitt confirmed Tuesday that the redshirt senior has left the program.
“He has exhausted everything that he can try to get himself back to where he can physically play,” Pruitt said at the SEC spring meetings, per the Knoxville News Sentinel.
“We all get to this point in time. At some point, they either tell us we’re not good enough anymore, or our body tells us it’s time to stop. Darrin feels like it’s time for him to move on.”
Kirkland, who has graduated, made the All-SEC Freshman Team in 2015 with 66 tackles, three sacks and one interception in 13 games.
He was sidelined for five games during his 2016 sophomore season with an ankle injury, then missed the entire 2017 campaign with a knee injury.
Kirkland returned in 2018 and played in 12 games, logging 51 tackles, one sack and one interception. He had 10 tackles against West Virginia in the Sept. 1 opener and returned a pick 33 yards for a touchdown against East Tennessee State on Sept. 8.
