Former Tennessee football linebacker Keenan Pili has gone through a tryout with the New Orleans Saints, according to a report from Nick Underhill.
Pili went undrafted this year after a two-year stint with the Vols. However, he was injured early in both seasons, forcing him to miss the majority of games while at UT.
Pili’s tryout with the Saints was held on July 29. He was one of two linebackers the team took a look at, joining Cincinnati’s Jared Barlett. Barlett has already been signed by the Green Bay Packers, though.
More From RTI: What’s Next For Tennessee Football After Behemoth Recruiting Week
This past season, Pili was a team captain for Tennessee and a starter when healthy. He played and started in six games before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the win over Florida. He was replaced by Jeremiah Telander the rest of the way, but was still a consistent presence in the locker room and on the sideline for the team.
In 2023, Pili transferred in out of BYU. In his first year with Tennessee, he played in just the opening win over Virginia before going down. A tricep injury forced him to watch the remainder of the season from the sidelines.
Prior to his time in Knoxville, Pili played four seasons at BYU. He rounded out his time in Provo as a team captain who led the team in 2022 with 62 tackles. He also contributed four tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Pili initially enrolled at BYU in 2016. However, he served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Orlando, Florida, from 2017-19. This pushed back his career after coming in as a three-star recruit from Timpview High School in Provo.
Pili is now 27 years old as he looks to begin his professional career.
