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David Ubben of The Athletic is reporting that Tennessee outside linebacker Jonathan Kongbo will miss the rest of 2018 with a torn ACL.
Kongbo is a redshirt senior defender who arrived in Knoxville back in 2016 as the #1 JUCO recruit in the country. He contributed early in his Tennessee career, participating in 13 games during the 2016 regular season. He emerged in 2017 with 10 starts and 11 appearances, and many hoped his 2018 season would be his best yet.
That did not bear out initially. Kongbo struggled to make an impact through the first five games and became an afterthought in Jeremy Pruitt’s system. However, last Saturday’s upset over Auburn was looking like his best game of the season. He came up with a crucial interception and appeared more comfortable at the position.
Unfortunately for Kongbo, he was injured by a cut block late in the third quarter. He had to be assisted off the field and did not return to the game. He was replaced by DeAndre Johnson.
Kongbo finishes 2018 with 11 total tackles, four quarterback hurries, and one interception.