'15 IN LB Darrin Kirkland Jr (UT Commit 12/15/14)

#1,651
#1,651
Had a busy day, so I am late with my giant BOOM!

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#1,658
#1,658
"I'd say about two days after I visited, I felt like it was the right place for me," said the Rivals.com four-star, who's listed as the No. 7 inside linebacker nationally. "When I was there, I did not want to leave at all. I'm excited to come back in in January and just experience everything that Tennessee has to offer."

"I had a hand-written letter from Jalen Reeves-Maybin, and he said he would be willing to give me 34 if I chose the Volunteers," Kirkland told VolQuest.com Monday on-site at Lawrence Central High School. "It was really awesome he was able to do that for me and it was pretty cool. Thirty-four is the number of my favorite players, guys that I kind of emulate myself after like Herschel Walker and Walter Payton."

Kirkland was a four-year varsity player in high school who amassed 450 tackles between his first two years at Park Tudor and his final two seasons at Lawrence Central, which has produced a bevy of SEC players in recent years.

"He's versatile enough because of his studying, and he played all three linebacker positions for us. But when he was in the middle running things, we were a much, much better team. His speed is unbelievable, for as big as he is. To add in those intangibles is why he's an All-American and why you guys are here today in Indy. It's been a humbling experience for me to coach a kid like him; we had a linebacker last year, Brandon Lee, go to Missouri and I've been blessed to coach a Mr. Football in this state, Morgan Newton, who went to Kentucky. But this young man is a pretty special kid."

"We've really enjoyed the process. We learned a lot along the journey. Very excited about today that he chose Tennessee. We love the atmosphere, the game atmosphere from start to finish. We just fell in love with it, fell in love with the coaches and the fans as well," said Stephanie, who noted she wasn't surprised her son developed into an early enrollee after being born a month premature. "I think the academic program fits really well with what he wants to study; he wants to get into the business school and major in finance and eventually get into law school.

"Our biggest thing was making sure that everything linked, that everything worked together simultaneously from the academic center to the business school to the coaches. What I liked the most is that everybody knew what everybody was doing. So the right hand knew what the left hand was doing throughout the entire trip. It was kind of synonymous. Every question we had, anybody could have answered."

Added Kirkland Sr., "We actually had relationships with numerous colleges with just the type of people we are; we get to know people. But Butch Jones and his staff that made us feel, you know, special and that they really wanted Darrin and was able to develop him at the next level. So that's what was special for us. It wasn't anything that he did differently. It was the fact that they just showed us interest. All the schools were showing a lot of interest, but Butch said, 'Hey, you know what, we want this kid here; we're a family and we can make him a better player as well as his transition into a young man.'
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-VQ.
 
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#1,664
#1,664
The Breakerboy said:
This is big along with Smith from Georgia. Fits the SEC much better than Cherry. These boys behind that D-line will be hell on wheels! :)
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If they can pull Walker as well, it will be a stellar LB class. Everybody is viewing Walker as a DE, but he is just like Maggitt coming in. A little smallish at this stage, for an SEC DE, but perfect for an OLB/pass rusher in the same mold as Maggitt.

This defense is going to be downright nasty next year.
 
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#1,667
#1,667
Vercingetorix said:
Oh, they're all special snowflakes. The football forum is full of (shall we say) informationally and/or cognitively challenged fans. The recruiting forum is an endless war over insider status. The basketball forum is a nonstop fight over who knows the most about basketball. The politics forum is a mud wrestling exhibition. The NBA forum is three dudes trying to figure out what Bad Jerry is talking about. Etc etc etc. Fortunately I love everybody.
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You left out the mod squad dissection. I was looking forward to that.
 
#1,674
#1,674
After watching film, I still think Cecil is a more punishing player, but Kirkland seems to be a much faster athlete and a better fit for SEC play.

Fair Assessment?
 
#1,675
#1,675
Volnukem said:
After watching film, I still think Cecil is a more punishing player, but Kirkland seems to be a much faster athlete and a better fit for SEC play.

Fair Assessment?
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Sure Cherry can hit, but doesn't have lateral speed. You can't hit what you can't catch, and Kirk has the speed to get there and to finish him with a fatality, or animality depending on how he feels. WOOOOPSIE for all you MK fans lol.
 
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