Brandon Kennedy‘s fight for immediate eligibility at Tennessee paid off for both the player and the football program as the transfer from Alabama earned a starting job right out of the gate. Unfortunately, just as quickly as it began it’s over.
Following reports that surfaced earlier in the day, Jeremy Pruitt confirmed that Kennedy has been diagnosed with a torn ACL in his right knee. The starting center suffered the injury during practice Tuesday afternoon.
As a result of the injury, Kennedy, who missed the last half of his last season with the Crimson Tide because of a foot injury, will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2018 season.
“He seems to be in good spirits,” the head coach said by way of the Associated Press. “And I know our staff and our players, everybody really has (gained) respect for Brandon since he’s been here and how he worked and went about his business.”
Kennedy had started the season-opening loss to West Virginia at center this past weekend. The redshirt junior will have another season of eligibility that he can use with the Volunteers for the 2019 season. It’s believed he will also be able to appeal for a medical hardship waiver for this year and get back another season of eligibility he can use in 2020.