DESTIN, Fla. (AP) — Tennessee linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. won't play for the Volunteers as a fifth-year senior this fall.

Volunteers coach Jeremy Pruitt told reporters Tuesday at the...

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt says linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. has changed his mind and will be staying with the Volunteers.

Kirkland shared on social media last week that he was leaving Tennessee after graduating with two years of eligibility remaining.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. is leaving Tennessee as a graduate transfer.

Kirkland tweeted Thursday that "Tennessee will always hold a special place in my heart." He added that "these moments have been priceless and I'm a better player and man from this experience."

Kirkland graduated this month and has two years of eligibility remaining.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. will miss the next two to three weeks of spring practice as he continues his comeback from a knee injury that sidelined him for the entire 2017 season.

Volunteers coach Jeremy Pruitt said Saturday that Kirkland's knee had "a minor little cleanup." Pruitt said Kirkland might return for "the last couple of practices of spring."

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee will have to regroup from its devastating 26-20 loss to Florida without a few of its key performers.

Volunteers coach Butch Jones says linebacker Cortez McDowell and wide receiver Jauan Jennings will miss the rest of the season and that safety Todd Kelly Jr. is out indefinitely.

Jennings had been ruled out indefinitely before the season. Jones said Monday that the junior wideout won't play all year.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr.'s knee injury will prevent him from playing at all this season, leaving the 25th-ranked Volunteers without one of their projected top defenders.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee coach Butch Jones says he expects Jalen Hurd to play Saturday against No. 1 Alabama after the junior running back missed a 45-38 overtime loss at Texas A&M last week with an unspecified injury.

Jones said Wednesday at the Southeastern Conference coaches' teleconference that Hurd is "back full strength." Hurd was at Tuesday afternoon's practice and was wearing a green non-contact jersey.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd has joined the list of Volunteers who won't be available Saturday at No. 8 Texas A&M.

Tennessee athletic department spokesman Ryan Robinson said Friday that Hurd didn't travel with the team to Texas A&M (5-0, 3-0 SEC) and will not be playing "due to an undisclosed injury."

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — In a story Oct. 3 about the injury status of Tennessee linebackers Darrin Kirkland Jr. and Jalen Reeves-Maybin, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Texas A&M's Myles Garrett is the Southeastern Conference sacks leader this season. He was the SEC sacks leader in 2015.

A corrected version of the story is below:

No. 9 Vols unsure about status of their top 2 linebackers

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. will miss a third straight game Saturday at No. 25 Georgia because of a high ankle sprain.

Volunteers coach Butch Jones ruled out Kirkland on Wednesday.

Jones said he expects defensive end LaTroy Lewis to play for the 11th-ranked Volunteers this week. Lewis played sparingly Saturday in a 38-28 victory over Florida after missing the Sept. 17 win over Ohio with an ankle injury.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee defensive back Malik Foreman has been suspended from the 15th-ranked Volunteers' game with Ohio on Saturday due to a violation of team rules.

The school announced Foreman's suspension shortly before Saturday's kickoff.

Foreman, a senior from Kingsport, Tennessee, had started each of Tennessee's first two games at nickel back. He has five tackles.

Nobody knows quite what to expect when an anticipated record crowd settles in Saturday for No. 17 Tennessee's showdown against Virginia Tech at Bristol Motor Speedway, which has been temporarily converted into a football stadium.

Tennessee linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. acknowledges that "it's going to be different" playing in this setting.

"In my head, it's kind of hard to envision," Kirkland said. "I'm definitely excited for the experience. It's kind of once in a lifetime."