Darrin Kirkland Jr. (34) has been working his way back to his usual standout form in Tennessee’s last two games and feels he’s ready to shine today.KNOXVILLE – Darrin Kirkland Jr. is hoping to finish his second season at Tennessee the same way he wrapped up the first, even if the path to get there wasn’t what the talented linebacker had in mind.
The sophomore returned to the center of the Volunteers’ defense at South Carolina after missing five games with an ankle injury, but more importantly Kirkland feels he’s back to being himself after playing in the past two games.
He hopes to show the rust is completely gone in today’s key SEC East game against Kentucky.
“It was difficult,” Kirkland said of missing multiple games after getting hurt against Virginia Tech in the second game. “Playing linebacker is just something (in which) repetition is the biggest thing as far as the communication standpoint, as far as the eye discipline standpoint – everything has to be so consistent. I lost a little bit of that as I was out for those six weeks.
“It definitely helped, those last two games, getting back in, getting some real game reps and getting more practice reps as well. I’m getting a lot more confident toward the end of the season.”