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Jersey Number 34
Darrin Kirkland Jr.
- Position:
- LB
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-1 / 234
- Class:
- Redshirt Junior
- Hometown:
- Indianapolis, Ind.
- High School:
- Lawrence Central
CAREER HONORS
- PFF College SEC Defensive Team of the Week (11/6/18)
- 2017 Athlon Sports Preseason Third Team All-SEC
- 2017 Phil Steele Preseason Fourth Team All-SEC
- 2017 SEC Academic Honor Roll
- 2015 All-SEC Freshman Team
2018 - R-JUNIOR
- 2018 Game-by-Game Stats
- Games/Starts: 12/12
- Came back to start 11 games at inside linebacker and finish fourth on the Vols with 51 tackles in 2018 after missing all of the 2017 season following a knee injury
- Added five TFLs, one sack and one interception, a 33- yard pick six
- Tallied six tackles and on TFL at Vanderbilt (11/24)
- Totaled four tackles against Missouri on Nov. 17
- Recorded three tackles in the Vols’ 24-7 win over No. 11 Kentucky (11/10)
- Had three tackles, including a two-yard tackle for loss and a pass breakup vs. Charlotte on Nov. 3
- Made six tackles, including a tackle for loss at South Carolina (10/27)
- Notched two tackles vs. No. 1 Alabama (10/20)
- Collected four tackles at No. 2 Georgia (9/29) and No. 21 Auburn (10/13)
- Recorded two tackles in the SEC opener vs. Florida (9/22)
- Tallied his first sack and quarterback hurry of the season vs. UTEP on Sept. 15
- Made the second interception of his career in the home opener vs. ETSU and returned it 33 yards to the end zone for a touchdown (9/8)
- Started season opener vs. West Virginia (9/1), his first start since 2016 finale
- Led UT with a career-high 10 tackles vs. West Virginia (9/1)
2017 - JUNIOR
- Missed the season after suffering an injury in preseason fall practice
2016 - SOPHOMORE
Photo Gallery- 2016 GAME-BY-GAME STATISTICS
- Games/Starts: 8/6
- Started at MIKE linebacker against Nebraska in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, registering seven tacklesand two tackles for loss
- Had two tackles at Vanderbilt (11/26)
- Matched season high with nine tackles (six solo) and had one TFL in win vs. Missouri (11/19)
- Had two tackles in win vs. Kentucky (11/12)
- Started at MLB and had one TFL vs. Tennessee Tech (11/5)
- Started at middle linebacker at South Carolina (10/29), leading the team with eight tackles in his return from injury
- Head coach Butch Jones announced on Sept. 12 that Kirkland suffered a high ankle sprain vs. Virginia Tech (9/10)
- Made seven tackles, including one sack for a four-yard loss, vs. Virginia Tech (9/1) before exiting the game with an ankle injury
- Tied career high with nine tackles vs. App State (9/1)
2015 - FRESHMAN
- Photo Gallery
- 2015 GAME-BY-GAME STATISTICS
- Games/Starts: 13/10
- Played in all 13 games with 10 starts at middle linebacker as a true freshman, making 66 tackles (fourth on team) with 6.5 TFLs and 3.0 sacks, an interception and five quarterback hurries
- Fourth in career tackles by a true freshman at Tennessee with 66
- Second in SEC in tackles by freshmen (Dre Greenlaw of Arkansas had 95)
- 31 tackles in final five season games
- Posted six tackles with 1.5 TFLs and a sack in Outback Bowl win over Northwestern (1/1)
- Five tackles and a clutch fumble recovery at Missouri (11/21)
- Career-high of nine tackles vs. South Carolina (11/7)
- First career interception along with six tackles at Kentucky (10/31)
- Equaled season high with seven tackles at #8 Alabama (10/24)
- Season-high seven tackles vs. Arkansas (10/3)
- Five tackles including 1.5 TFLs and a 9-yard sack at Florida (9/26)
- First career start came vs. Western Carolina (9/19), made four tackles
- As one of 15 true freshmen to debut vs. Bowling Green (9/5), made three tackles including a 9-yard sack
HIGH SCHOOL
- 247 Sports: 4-star (No. 4 inside linebacker, No. 2 prospect in Indiana)
- ESPN: 4-star (No. 7 inside linebacker, No. 1 prospect in Indiana)
- Rivals: 4-star (No. 7 inside linebacker, No. 1 prospect in Indiana)
- Scout: 4-star (No. 5 middle linebacker, No. 1 prospect in Midwest)
- Played in U.S. Army All-American Game in 2015
- Named MaxPreps All-American in 2014
- Participated in The Opening in 2014
- Named to Indianapolis Star Super Team as a senior in 2014
- Honored as all-state in Indiana in both 2013 and 2014
- First team all-conference as a junior and senior
- Had 367 tackles in his three-year prep career
- Piled up 121 tackles as a senior, including 13.5 tackles for loss along with three interceptions in 2014
- Had 108 tackles as a junior in 2013 and 138 as a sophomore in 2012
- Helped Bears to 2012 Indiana State Championship and perfect 14-0 record
- Played played basketball in high school
- Earned Honor Roll every semester in high school
PERSONAL
- Full name: Darrin Keith Kirkland Jr.
- Born: Oct. 4, 1996 in Indianapolis, Ind.
- Son of Stephanie and Darrin Kirkland Sr.
- Brother of Derrick and Dean Kirkland
- Majoring in Finance
- Recipient of the John Dail Ogle Athletic Endowment Fund
FB | Braylon Staley & Edrees Farooq Postgame (11.1.25)
Sunday, November 02
FB | Joey Aguilar & Edwin Spillman Postgame (11.1.25)
Sunday, November 02
FB | Josh Heupel Postgame Press Conference vs. Oklahoma (11.1.25)
Sunday, November 02
FB | Cinematic Recap at Kentucky (10.25.25)
Wednesday, October 29
