University of Tennessee Athletics
All-Americans
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DeLong, Keith
Linebacker
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Quarterback
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Halfback
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Running Back
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Jersey Number 33
Keith DeLong
- Position:
- Linebacker
- Year(s) Awarded:
- 1988
- Hometown:
- Lawrence, Kan.
- High School:
- Lawrence
Bio
According to his coach, Johnny Majors, "they don't come any finer as a college performer than Keith DeLong." DeLong proved as much his senior year, his second consecutive season of leading the Vols in tackles - he had 159 as a senior and 125 as a junior.
Despite the Vols finishing 5-6 in 1988, DeLong earned All-America status and was a finalist for the Butkus Award given annually to the nation's best collegiate linebacker.
Career Totals
- Games Played: 40
- Tackles: 330
- Tackles For Loss: 16
- Sacks: 4
- Fumble Recoveries: 3
- Interceptions: 3
- Passes Defended: 7
CAREER HONORS
- 1988 All-America
- Two-time All-SEC (1987, 1988)
- 1987 SEC Academic Honor Roll
1988 - SENIOR
- Played in all 11 games for the Big Orange, racking up a team-high 159 tackles with 10 tackles for loss
- Served as team captain
- Earned All-America status and was a finalist for the Butkus Award given annually to the nation's best collegiate linebacker
- Voted first team All-SEC by AP voters
- Named SEC Player of the Week following a 23-tackle performance against Alabama, dubbed the second-best single-game performance in Tennessee history
1987 - JUNIOR
- Played in 12 games, leading the Vols with 125 total tackles during his junior season
- Named second team All-SEC and Academic All-SEC
- Logged a team-high six tackles for loss
- Named AP Co-Defensive Player of the Week in the SEC for his stellar 16-tackle performance against highly ranked Auburn
- Later earned that same honor for his efforts in the Mississippi game where had nine stops (six sol), a fumble recovery, a tackle for loss and one interception
- Tallied 17 tackles in the season finale against Vanderbilt, breaking up two passes and sacking the quarterback once
- Had a team-leading 13 tackles against Indiana in the Peach Bowl
1986 - SOPHOMORE
- Played in 9 games as a sophomore, limited by a back injury
- Recorded 27 tackles
- Had a team-high 10 tackles in the season opener against New Mexico as a replacement for Kelly Ziegler
1985 - FRESHMAN
- One of two true freshman to see action, played in eight games for the Vols backing up Ziegler
- Had 19 tackles and played on kickoff coverage team
- First saw varsity action against Florida
- Recorded three tackles in the Sugar Bowl win over No. 2 Miami
HIGH SCHOOL
- Played under head coach Bill Freeman at Lawrence High School
- Primarily a linebacker, he also played fullback and led his team to an 11-1 record and the state championship his senior year
- Honorable mention All-America by USA Today, as well as All-State, All-League and All-Metro
FB | Miles Kitselman Media Availability (9.15.25)
Monday, September 15
FB | Jesse Perry Media Availability (9.15.25)
Monday, September 15
FB | Edwin Spillman Media Availability (9.15.25)
Monday, September 15
FB | Josh Heupel Press Conference (9.15.25)
Monday, September 15
