McNeil makes surprising return for Vols

KNOXVILLE - LaDarrell McNeil's football career looked all but over a few weeks ago.

Yet there the Tennessee senior safety was Saturday night at Neyland Stadium, back on the field and making plays for the Volunteers.

McNeil enjoyed a storybook return to the field after a neck injury appeared to have ended his playing career last month as he intercepted an errant deep throw from Western Carolina quarterback Troy Mitchell and raced back 57 yards to set up a short Jalen Hurd touchdown run in the second quarter of Tennessee's 55-10 rout.

"I wasn't expecting to making a big or catch an interception tonight," McNeil said. "I was just planning on easing my way back on the field and getting the feel back for it."

Tennessee coach Butch Jones announced a little more than a week before the season opener that McNeil would be sidelined indefinitely by neck instability, and the Vols appeared set to lose the player with the second-most career starts on the roster entering this season.

McNeil said he was part of a big hit in practice that made his arm go numb and his neck swollen, and he's said he's consciously adjusted his tackling form.

"It was tough, because I've worked all my life up until this moment," he said, fighting back some emotions. "It was very tough for me, and I'm glad I've got the teammates I do, because they were there to lift me up. My coaches, they were by me to support, and I'm just very grateful to them."

Tennessee's fourth-leading tackler last season, McNeil thought he still had a chance to play and sought a second opinion on his situation from doctors in his native Texas, and he returned to practice last week, though he wore a noncontact green jersey and did not play last week.

"It was a very tough time of my life," he said, "but once I heard the news and I told the news to the guys, especially the defensive backs, they were very excited. They were more excited than I was. I was just happy to be back on the field."

Brian Randolph and Todd Kelly Jr. started as expected against WCU, but McNeil entered the game in the second quarter and quickly made an impact.

"The first thing I was thinking was, 'Go score, and take care of the football,'" Jones said.

"It's a great story of resiliency and perseverance. It was a very trying two weeks for him and his family, and then the emotion of your career is not over with, you don't have to have surgery and then getting him back.

"We wanted to ease him into the game tonight. We didn't want to give him the inordinate amount of reps, just because he hasn't play football in a while. It was very fitting, though."

After his interception and long return, McNeil was mobbed by his defensive teammates on the field, and Kelly and cornerback Cameron Sutton congratulated him all the way to the sideline, where Randolph was waiting to give his teammate a jumping chest bump.

"He probably wasn't going to play again, and he came back and then made the plays he's supposed to make," safety Evan Berry said. "He was a little bit nervous at first, and I was like, 'Man you've done this for four years. Same old game. Go out there and make plays.' He did exactly that."

First impressions

Freshman wide receiver Preston Williams made a splash on Tennessee's opening drive by hauling in a 25-yard touchdown pass from Josh Dobbs early in the first quarter.

The 6-foot-4, 209-pound former five-star recruit played in the Vols' first two games after learning he'd be eligible only about 10 days before the season opener. Williams is also coming off a significant knee injury he suffered late his senior season of high school. He was targeted a couple of times against Bowling Green but didn't catch either throw.

Williams became the first Vol to catch a touchdown pass with his first career reception since Jason Croom did so at Oregon in 2013. He also hauled in a 49-yard pass on a beautiful throw from Quinten Dormady in the third quarter and finished that drive with a 25-yard TD catch.

Defensive developments

Freshman Darrin Kirkland started at middle linebacker as expected, but LaTroy Lewis was a surprising addition to the starting lineup at defensive end.

The Vols went with the former four-star recruit over Colton Jumper to get some more athleticism on the field at linebacker, Jones said he thought Kirkland "did some good things" in his first start.

Corey Vereen played extensively after Curt Maggitt suffered his hip injury against Oklahoma last week and was expected to start, but Lewis, who played well in a reserve role late last season, got the nod.

Freshman defensive end Kyle Phillips did not start but came in early as part of a special package. He lined up over the center, and two other defensive ends lined up outside. Chris Weatherd came in as an extra linebacker.

The Vols used a similar 3-3-5 package, one that had Derek Barnett lining up as a defensive tackle with Weatherd as a stand-up rush end, against Oklahoma last week.

Robertson sidelined

Starting left guard Jashon Robertson left the game in the first half.

The sophomore had his right ankle taped and iced by a trainer early in the second quarter. Robertson suffered the injury in the second half against Oklahoma last week.

Mack Crowder replaced Robertson at left guard as he did against Oklahoma.

New look

Tennessee debuted a new offensive package against Western Carolina.

The Vols put freshman wide receiver Jauan Jennings, a converted quarterback, in as a wildcat quarterback for a couple of plays in the first half. Jennings picked up 12 yards on the first play and 1 yard on the second.

Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com

Photo Gallery

The Weekend Theater

People attend the showing of "Sweeney Todd" at The Weekend Theater Friday, June 20.