"Why me?"

It would be easy for Riverdale senior D'Andre Litaker to lay in bed at night and utter those words.

But he doesn't.

More:Riverdale's D'Andre Litaker has ACL tear, to miss rest of season

After a 12-month period in which he tore his ACL, lost his mother and then tore the ACL in his other knee, the Warriors lineman and Tennessee commitment simply bears what has been thrown his way.

"I think about it every day," said Litaker, whose season ended when he tore his right ACL in a home game against Spring Hill Sept. 8. He will have surgery on Oct. 10.

"But I can't question God or ask why. He always has a bigger and better plan. I just pray about it. At the end of the road, he's got bigger and better things for me."

Why last fall was so rough for Litaker

Litaker suffered an ACL tear on his left knee in September 2016. Just two months later his mother, Stephanie Coleman, was killed in an automobile accident, splitting he and his sister, D'Shontae up. She went to live with an older sister in Pulaksi.

More:Murfreesboro stands with Riverdale football player in wake of mother's death

D'Andre was taken in by the family of teammate Jarek Campbell.

"They were all there for me when my mother passed away, and it's the same now," said Litaker, a 6-2, 300-pound defensive tackle. "They've been an unbelievable support system.

"To have someone like that care about someone like me ... they're a blessing to be around."

More:Mother of Riverdale High's D'Andre Litaker killed in I-65 crash

Campbell's stepfather, former Riverdale athlete and Rock Springs Middle basketball coach Emanuel Chestnutt, marvels at how Litaker has handled such a rough year.

"He's been through a lot," Chestnutt said. "He doesn't wear his emotions on his sleeve. A lot of times you don't know what he's thinking or feeling. On the outside he appears to be fine. But those moments by himself, you know he thinks about his mom.

"To be his age, he's handled all of that better than I think I could."

What happened this summer

Things were looking up for Litaker during the summer.

While rehabbing from surgery on his left knee, Litaker committed to Tennessee in June. He then recovered quicker than expected and joined the Warriors in time for the first day of practice in full pads.

He and the Riverdale defense were off to a good start to the season before his latest setback against Spring Hill.

He was attempting to make a tackle when he leaped over an offensive lineman who had gone low to block. When he planted to make the tackle, he turned, which caused the injury.

"I knew something was wrong as soon as I hit the ground," said Litaker, who was No. 6 on The Tennessean's Dandy Dozen. "Something snapped. I tried to get back up and go to the next play, but I just laid there. I couldn't get up.

More:Vols commitment D'Andre Litaker healthy as Riverdale football practice begins

"I couldn't feel my leg, except for tingling a little. I couldn't stand up or walk. I actually thought it was something worse."

He saw a specialist the following Monday, which confirmed what most had feared about the knee.

"I guess it's a good thing it wasn't the (left) knee again," Litaker said. "Not that tearing your ACL is good. But when I found out it was the other leg, I thanked God it wasn't the one I already tore."

How the Vols have responded

Litaker has stayed in contact with coaches at Tennessee, particularly Vols line coach Walt Wells. The Vols have stayed supportive throughout Litaker's injury.

"They said, 'Things just happen.'" Litaker said. "That's one of the reasons I picked UT. They've stuck with me through the good days and bad days."

Normal recovery time after ACL surgery is around 11-12 months. Given that, Litaker expects to redshirt his freshman season at Tennessee.

More:Riverdale's D'Andre Litaker commits to Tennessee

"Once I get healthy, I'll be ready to get on the field," he said. "Knowing I can't play (at Riverdale) hurts me a lot. But I believe in myself and I believe in God."

That belief has been what has helped get him through the last year.

"That's basically how we have to look at it," said Chestnutt. "You take it and don't question it. It's not for us to understand it. We told him to stay positive, and we will be here no matter what."

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.