Monday night the Tennessee football team lost another senior leader in defensive tackle Danny O'Brien. The Flint, Michigan native was dismissed from the program in a situation unrelated to his injury against Texas A&M.

This is now the third senior defensive starter the Vols have lost this season. Cornerback Cam Sutton remains out with a fractured ankle, suffered against Ohio. Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin is weighing his options of season ending shoulder surgery.

Butch Jones says Jalen Reeves-Maybin still looking at different options… Has not made decision on season ending shoulder surgery. #Vols

— VFL Insider (@VFL_insider) October 10, 2016

Defensive Line Depth

The loss of O'Brien is crushing and comes at a difficult time. Top ranked Alabama comes to Knoxville on Saturday as a 10-point favorite. The Crimson Tide ran for 264 yards last week against No. 16 Arkansas. O'Brien had been listed as 'day to day' after his injury against A&M, but definitely would have played a roll in a Vols defense that is decimated by injury.

The defensive line is actually very healthy. Behind starters O'Brien and Kendall Vickers is the sophomore duo of Shy Tuttle and Khalil McKenzie. These two former highly touted recruits have been looking to see more playing time, but O'Brien and Vicker's play has kept backup snaps limited. Butch Jones did say Monday the two sophomores played the best games of their young careers against Texas A&M. They'll need to double-up that performance against the Tide. Vol fans have waited for Tuttle and McKenzie to step up, and now they have their chance against the nation's best.

Tennessee is very deep at defensive end. Derek Barnett is arguably the best player in the SEC, and Corey Vereen is having a strong senior campaign. Jonathan Kongbo and LeTroy Lewis complete a four man rotation at end. I could see more of a scenario of using Kongbo or Barnett on the inside on passing situations, with the loss of O'Brien. Now, the Vols don't have much of a rotation inside with just the trio of Vickers, Tuttle and Mckenzie. Kyle Phillips could see more playing time at defensive end with the Vols down a body.

One Starter to Return

Good news could be on the way with the return of linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. The sophomore starter has been out since the second game of the season with a high ankle sprain. Kirkland adds more speed and physicality than what Tennessee's linebackers have had without him. Colton Jumper has spelled him well and can now be counted on as a reliable contributor.

With Kirkland returning Butch Jones was asked if he and Jumper could find themselves on the field together.

Jones says Colton Jumper and Darrin Kirkland Jr. could be on the field at the same time if Kirkland comes back this week

— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) October 10, 2016

Kirkland and Jumper play the same position, but injuries to Reeves-Maybin, Cortez McDowell and Quarte Sapp could call for the two to both start against Alabama. I consider them Tennessee's best two  "healthy" linebackers.