Josh Heupel pays tribute to injured Tennessee LB Keenan Pili

Josh Heupel I didn't have an update on the injured Tennessee football linebacker Keenan PIli late Saturday night after the 23-17 overtime win over Florida at Neyland Stadium. However, the head coach acknowledged who Pili has been for the Vols since arriving in Knoxville last year.

“I don’t have an update on Pili,” Heupel said during his postgame press conference. “We will know more tomorrow.

Pili only appeared on the field twice before apparently suffering a leg injury. After being examined by Tennessee trainers, he exited on his own recognizance and was then quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Keenan Pili tied for the team lead with 29.0 tackles in six games

Pili is tied with Will Brooks was Tennessee's leading tackler through the first six games of the season with 29.0 total tackles (11 solo, 18 assists), including 1.5 tackles for loss. He also has two quarterback hits.

Last week, he had a season-high 10 tackles in Tennessee's 19-14 loss to Arkansas. Pili had five tackles at Oklahoma, three tackles against Kent State, four against North Carolina State and two in the opener against Chattanooga. He had 0.5 tackles in a loss against NC State and 1.0 against Oklahoma.

Pili transferred from BYU to Tennessee before last season, but was injured in the season-opening win over Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville and was out for the season.

“I'm not sure there's a better representative of what a volunteer is than Keenan Pili“Heupel said on Saturday evening. “You're talking about a selfless guy who cares far more about the people around him than he does about himself.

“This is an elite competitor, a great leader, tough, athletic, explosive, everything you want. He's just a dude, man. A special guy.”

Next: No. 11 Tennessee vs. No. 7 Alabama, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

Tennessee's defense remained strong Saturday night even without Pili. The Vols continued their streak of holding their opponents under 20 points to start the season for the sixth straight time, something the Vols had not accomplished since 1969.

Tennessee forced five Florida punts, recovered one of two Gator fumbles and intercepted a pass that turned into a field goal. James Pearce Jr. forced and recovered a fumble at the Tennessee 1-yard line, and the Vols made two stops on fourth-and-1.

Florida got the ball first in overtime and lost four yards before missing a 47-yard field goal attempt.

Available without pili, Jeremiah Telander led the linebackers' snap count with 67. Arion Carter had 67, Kalib Perry played 35 and Jalen Smith played 19.

“Defensively,” Heupel said, “elite performance – physicality, stress, most of the night’s action sounds.” Made plays. James on the goal line forces the fumble. They just did so many things at a really high level and kept us in the game.”